Ferguson heartened by Veron's rapid recovery

Argentinian will help Manchester United to compensate for Butt's absence as Robson considers his options

After a stumbling start to the season, bringing their worst goals return since Tommy Docherty's relegation campaign of 1973-74, Manchester United hope that this will be the week to restore something of the old order of things. Tonight's opening Champions' League match at home to Maccabi Haifa offers an opportunity to hit the net and renew ailing confidence, prior to putting the southern pretenders of Tottenham Hotspur in their place on Saturday.

To that end, the week has begun well with the news that Juan Sebastian Veron has recovered unexpectedly quickly from his groin strain and will start this evening. That offsets the loss of Nicky Butt, who injured a hip in United's second successive 1-0 defeat last week, at Leeds. Having received some positive news at last, Sir Alex Ferguson took the unusual step of announcing his line-up some 30 hours ahead of the game, confirming just the one change.

So the Irish international John O'Shea will remain at right-back, with Phil Neville in midfield – brother Gary is close to fitness and could be on the substitutes' bench – while the misfiring Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continue in attack. Ferguson has admitted that his £18m Dutchman, the scorer of 36 goals last season, has a "lost his confidence a little" but regards this as an excellent chance to restore it. He had hoped that two goals against Zalaegerszeg in the qualifying round might have done the trick, but United have not scored since, in defeats by Bolton and Leeds.

"Ruud hasn't had a great deal of chances and I don't think it's a big worry at this moment," Ferguson said yesterday. "It's early season and we know he can score, as can Ole Solskjaer. So I have to trust that and I'm going to trust it. I'm trying to get that partnership off the ground." The Uruguayan Diego "Forlorn" Forlan must therefore wait for the chance to break his duck after 26 attempts.

United's manager is broadening his horizons after Israel's entry to Uefa, but is struggling to get to grips with his Maccabis and his Hapoels. There were five clubs of each name in the First Division last season and for the second time in a week Ferguson confused tonight's opponents with Hapoel Tel Aviv, the team who knocked Chelsea out of the Uefa Cup a year ago.

What his files should tell him is that Maccabi finished eight points ahead of Hapoel, losing only two of their 33 league games and are now the dominant force in their country's football. Named after a Jewish hero who led a revolt against the Syrians in the second century BC, they also include Arab players, one of whom, Walid Badir, scored his only goal for Wimbledon in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford three years ago. He will be in midfield tonight, with two Croatians, Nenad Pralija and Giovanni Rosso, the latter being regarded as the team's outstanding individual. Ferguson was impressed with one of two Nigerians in the squad, the striker Yakubu Ayegbeni, and was pleased that a red card collected in an eventful 3-3 draw in the qualifying round against Sturm Graz rules him out.

Apart from the Graz ties, Maccabi have had little competitive football this season: Israel's domestic campaign, like Italy's, was delayed until last weekend because of a dispute over television contracts. All is now resolved and a huge Israeli audience will watch the game – though a high proportion regard themselves as United fans.

"It would be fair to say this is the biggest game in our history," said Maccabi's manager, Itzhak Schum. "We are proud to be the first Israeli club in the Champions' League. United have so many great players and a legendary manager, but we won't be intimidated."

Manchester United (4-4-2): Barthez; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Blanc, Silvestre; Beckham, Veron, P Neville, Giggs; Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer.

Maccabi Haifa (4-5-1, probable): Awate; Benado, Keise, Harazi, Ejiafor; Zutauttas, Walid Badir, Rosso, Pralija, Zandberg; Katan.