ALEX FERGUSON is relishing the prospect of his Manchester United side facing the unique challenge presented by Stoke at Old Trafford tonight.

After Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool, an encounter with Tony Pulis’ battlers would not normally be viewed as the ideal method of recovery.

Yet, in much the same way as United tended to overcome Bolton during the era under Sam Allardyce, when Wanderers managed to get under the skin of all the other big clubs, they have emerged relatively unscathed in their meetings with Stoke.

A draw at the Britannia Stadium in September represented the first points dropped to Stoke outfit since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2008.

And United must go back to 1976 for their last Old Trafford loss to Stoke, courtesy of a late goal from club legend Alan Bloor.

“You know what Tony Pulis’ team will be like, they are the same all the time,” said Ferguson. “They will be 100 per cent committed and they always get stuck in. You have to cope with that. To be honest, I always enjoy it.

“It was like when we used to play Wimbledon. No one used to look forward to playing against them but my team started to because it was a physical challenge and in terms of taking the ball and playing football.

“Stoke are a different team altogether but they still have the same qualities of never giving in, so it is always a good challenge.”

The weekend setback has placed even more emphasis on the next few weeks, when Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham must all be faced.

With the Europa League – which United are competing for as a result of their Champions League failure – as the only other trophy they can win.

Three points behind Manchester City already, United cannot afford to slip any further adrift if they are to gain any advantage from their vast experience over the run-in.

“It is a big programme,” said Ferguson. “From the middle of January until we go to Tottenham, it looked quite a daunting programme. But when you go back years ago in our title campaigns, we have always had periods of must win-games in a row and that is what we have here.”

Although Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley and Anderson are all inching closer to full fitness, it seems Nani may be out for a significant period with a foot injury.

Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones are continuing to nurse ankle problems, so the main avenue of good news from the treatment table could come from Rio Ferdinand, who has returned to training after a back spasm.

Yet again this season, United find themselves having to haul themselves off the floor, just as they did after that 6-1 hammering by Manchester City in October, and their shattering Champions League humiliation by FC Basel two months later.

And, speaking yesterday, defender Jonny Evans emphasised the kind of mentality that is being demanded of his players by Ferguson once more.

“We responded really well after the 6-1 defeat against City and then the losses against Blackburn and Newcastle around the turn of the year,” Evans said.

“We went on a great run after the City game and then after New Year we’ve beaten both City and Arsenal away. That’s what this team does.

“Every player knows what is expected. When you’re at Manchester United you know defeats like that aren’t acceptable.”