Football: Solskjaer joins Cole for Super showdown

THE MANCHESTER United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, will stick to his squad rotation policy for tonight's Super Cup game against Lazio in Monaco but insists the competition - yet another distraction in an already congested fixture list - is worth winning.

Ferguson insisted: "We want to win. That is important. It is a prestigious competition but having seven substitutes does allow me the chance to tinker a little bit."

Andy Cole and Paul Scholes were left out of Ferguson's starting line- up in Wednesday's 2-1 win at Coventry City, and there will be other changes tonight, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer certain to play in attack, probably in partnership with Cole. Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham, who were the favoured pairing at Highfield Road, seem sure to be rested ahead of Monday's Premiership match with Newcastle United. Ferguson is also contemplating omitting Denis Irwin, while Nicky Butt is unlikely to play after suffering double vision at Coventry.

Ferguson said: "I thought I should freshen it up on Wednesday and I have had a big programme to think about with three matches in five days. Andy Cole had a breather and Scholes a bit of a rest, and I will rest others on Friday. We will change it around again. We did the right things at the right times last season in freshening up certain players and we will do it again this year.

"Solskjaer will definitely play, probably Cole as well, and I might bring in one of the young players like Wilson or Greening. I will also look at Irwin and may leave him out. He's getting old now! I will see what he is like. But it is such a hard pitch, not the easiest to play on, and he picked up a calf injury the last time he played on it."