Beckham upbeat about return

Unusually, United's home fans will likely warmly embrace an opposition player.

The 34-year-old Beckham hasn't played a club match at Old Trafford since his acrimonious departure in 2003 and United midfielder Paul Scholes believes the home fans will be pleased to see him again.

"United fans still love him for what he did for this club and he will get a fantastic ovation," said Scholes, who made the United first-team alongside Beckham in the 1990s.

"He will need to be watched though. If you give him time and room on the ball there is no doubt he will pick players out. From free-kicks as well, his delivery is as great as ever."

With such encouraging words, it's little wonder that Beckham isn't apprehensive about returning to the club that helped him win six Premier League titles and a Champions League.

"I'm not nervous, I'm happy because for the first time after seven years I will return to Manchester and go on the pitch," Beckham said. "If I play on Wednesday, I won't be frightened, but I will be excited in any case because I played in that stadium for many years and I know what it means to be a Manchester United player."

And United manager Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't discount Beckham's enduring ability to deliver an accurate ball.

"David's strength has always been his crosses and if he plays tomorrow that will be threat against us, and his set piece play," Ferguson said.

"But I don't know if he will start. I've not got that down in my conclusions of the Milan team."

Beckham is on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy until the end of the season and his hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals were helped by Clarence Seedorf reducing the first-leg deficit with a late goal two weeks ago.

Milan had led through Ronaldinho's early goal, but Scholes levelled before Wayne Rooney added two more to clinch United's first win at the San Siro.

"That was a landmark victory for us and it was a psychological thing winning there," Ferguson said.

"European football is one of a changing nature every year and the challenge to me seems to get different because it's a varied tournament in terms of club form. The Italians have not been as good as the Spaniards or English teams, but there is a sense they are better now."