Teddy Sheringham could return to Manchester United's attack against Arsenal at Highbury tomorrow. United's manager Alex Ferguson revealed that the England striker would feature against the Double winners, although he would not confirm if he would start.

Sheringham did his cause no harm when he scored twice for the reserves in Thursday night's 3-2 victory over Birmingham at Old Trafford.

The 32-year-old has made just one start for United this season against LKS Lodz in the Champions' League and last week against Coventry he could not even make the bench.

Ferguson has said that he wants to experiment with different strike pairings following the signing of Dwight Yorke, and Sheringham could well start in place of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"I'm pleased with how Yorke and Solskjaer have worked together, but I want to look at other combinations," said Ferguson. "Teddy did very well last night and I think he's going to figure." Sheringham will be thrilled at the prospect of restaking his claim for a first-team place and he also scored twice in last season's 3-2 defeat in north London. That game was one of the best matches of last season, but Ferguson would readily settle for a drab 1-0 victory tomorrow over the side which denied him a fifth title in six years. "If you were to ask me if I would rather have another right good game against Arsenal or the three points I would take the latter because results are more important," he said. "Our record against Arsenal has been good over the years. "We lost a tight game last year and I think it will be another tight game on Sunday."

Ronny Johnsen is losing his battle to be fit for the match. The Norwegian centre-half missed Wednesday's Champions' League draw against Barcelona after he injured his ankle last Saturday and Ferguson admitted that he looks likely to sit out the trip to London.

"Ronny Johnsen is a lot better, but he's still doubtful," said Ferguson. "I didn't think he would make Wednesday and although he has a better chance now, I still think that he's very, very doubtful."

Ryan Giggs is fit to face Arsene Wenger's side after he needed a stitch in an eye wound on Wednesday.

Arsenal have fitness worries over Emmanuel Petit and Ray Parlour. Petit was carried off in Wednesday's Champions' League draw with Lens and is rated with a less than 50 per cent chance of making the starting line-up.

Parlour is rated 60-40 by Wenger to recover in time from his ankle injury but new signing Fredrik Ljungberg will be in the squad.

Tony Adams did not train yesterday but should be fit to play and Wenger has an almost full strength squad to choose from.

Wenger has effectively ruled out a bid for Alan Shearer - to protect Nicolas Anelka's status at Highbury.

Shearer's agent was spotted at Arsenal yesterday prompting speculation that a move to North London could be on the cards.

The England captain's future at Newcastle has been clouded since the sacking of Kenny Dalglish and the arrival of former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit.

Shearer insisted he is happy to stay at Newcastle and Wenger appears equally happy for him to remain at St James' Park to safeguard Anelka's career.

Wenger said: "Shearer is a great player but I think at the moment it's important to keep the door open for Anelka as first choice because he is only 19-year-old and that (buying Shearer) would nearly close the door for him and I don't want that.

"I believe that Nicolas will be a great striker and I have to give him a chance to play. "I am not close to signing anybody and not at all close to signing Shearer. If Shearer comes out and says he wants to stay at Newcastle you have to respect that.

"Anelka will be a tremendous player if he can repeat the sort of performance he had against Lens. He has to show that same desire in every game."

ARSENAL (from): Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Bould, Adams, Winterburn, Parlour, Vieira, Hughes, Petit, Overmars, Anelka, Bergkamp, Wreh, Vivas, Manninger, Grimandi, Garde, Boa Morte, Ljungberg.

MANCHESTER UNITED (from): Schmeichel, G Neville, Berg, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin, P Neville, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole, Sheringham, Solskjaer, Blomqvist, May, Culkin.