Alex Ferguson expects Benito Carbone to be absent from Bradford's starting line-up when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight.

Ferguson has been doing his homework on Bradford and he feels they will deploy Dean Windass as a lone striker like they did at Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

That day Carbone was a substitute and he figured only in the closing stages after Liverpool had scored.

The Italian has started Bradford's last two matches - and scored in the 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

But those games were both at Valley Parade, and Ferguson believes boss Chris Hutchings will employ a more cautious 4-5-1 formation away from home.

"I don't think Carbone will start," said Ferguson.

"I think they will have him on the bench.

"I think he's a talented player obviously, but they had a pattern of play against Liverpool which I think they will persist with against us.

"It's a game where we are faced with a situation where we mustn't give them too much encouragement.

"They will come here with a plan, and it will be up to us to break them down and play."

Ferguson will be keen to beat Bradford after the champions drew their last two matches at Ipswich and West Ham and he is boosted by better news on the injury front.

Gary Neville and Ronny Johnsen are fit again following their groin injuries to strengthen United's defence, while Fabien Barthez has shrugged off the ankle injury which kept him out of France's 1-1 draw with England on Saturday.

Jaap Stam, though, will miss out with the hamstring injury he picked up at West Ham nine days ago.