Hughes and Cole unite

FOOTBALL

Andy Cole, Manchester United's record signing, will partner the player he was signed to replace, Mark Hughes, for the first time tonight against Norwich at Carrow Road.

United admit the player who began as a junior at Old Trafford before returning from a spell with Barcelona was set to move on when Cole was signed. But Eric Cantona's suspension led to a new two-year contract for Hughes, and a new attacking foil in Cole. "I'm looking forward to it," Hughes said. "I'm sure we can hit it off."

Cole, who has scored in his last two games, can reach the century mark if he makes it three in a row at Norwich. "I've been told that I have scored 99 goals in League and Cup games, but to be honest I had no idea. It doesn't really bother me. I will just keep plugging away and try to keep playing well and winning," he said.

The £7m signing is relishing life at Old Trafford. "It's brilliant. I'm just one of the boys and I'm treated no differently to anybody else," he said. "That is all I wanted when I came here and I'm very happy."

Cole returns after being cup-tied for Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup defeat of Leeds, leaving the United manager, Alex Ferguson, with the difficult task of changing a winning team.

His Norwich counterpart, John Deehan, will welcome back three key players as they attempt to bounce back from their FA Cup humiliation. The club's leading scorer, Ashley Ward ,was cup-tied for Saturday's 5-0 defeat at Everton, while both John Polston and Mike Milligan were completing two- match suspensions.

The trio all return for the game, with Ward linking up with Mike Sheron in attack to allow Darren Eadie to revert to his normal wide role. Polston and Milligan will relieve Rob Newman and Andy Johnson, but midfielder Ian Crook is doubtful with a knee injury.

Tony Yeboah is set for his first start in English football in Leeds' Premiership fixture with Everton at Elland Road. The £3.4m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt is likely to be rewarded for his goal in Sunday's defeat with a place in Leeds' starting line-up.

Howard Wilkinson expects David Wetherall to recover from the rib and facial injuries he sustained at Old Trafford, but both Brian Deane and Carlton Palmer are still out suspended.

The Leeds manager, still eyeing a Uefa place, said: "We have 16 games left and we must not waste any of them. It won't be easy lifting the players because they were desperately disappointed to go out of the Cup."

Everton have Barry Horne and Earl Barrett available again after suspension.