United may leave out McClair

Brian McClair could find himself back on the substitutes bench for Manchester United tonight, despite scoring twice against Coventry City last Wednesday.

Alex Ferguson must decide between Paul Scholes and McClair for his team to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, where victory would bring the Premiership leaders, Newcastle, back to within three points.

Scholes, United's leading scorer this season with 10 goals, missed the 4-0 victory at Highfield Road because of a heavy cold. "I always look at whatever game I play in in the same way," McClair said. "I try and enjoy it as much as I can and take whatever I can from the game. We must wait and see what happens, but the club and team are more important than individuals."

Ferguson said: "Brian has given this club great service. He has never complained and has always set out to make sure whatever I ask him to do he has the mental capacity and strength to do it."

Forest's last match in the Premiership was a 7-0 thrashing at Blackburn, which ended their unbeaten League record of 25 matches. Paul McGregor, who scored their goal in last week's Uefa Cup win over Lyon, faces a fitness test on his back while Forest are without Bryan Roy, out for a month after a cartilage operation, and striker Jason Lee who still has a thigh injury.