Champions League Squad for the knockouts

United last night announced the 25-men squad that will represent them in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. Owen Hargreaves has been left out of the list as the 19 year old midfielder Oliver Norwood makes it to the ‘B’ list. Norwood is joined by Rafael, Fabio, Oliver Gill, Joshua King and William Keane in the B list, which includes players born on or after 1 January 1989 who have given at least two years' continued service to the club after their 15th birthday.

Antonio Valencia is expected to be fit to face Marseille in the second leg of the knockout round.

United are set to face French team Marseille on February 23, away from home followed by the match at Old Trafford on March 15.

Here is the list of players:

Goalkeepers: Van der Sar(1), Kuszczak (29), Lindegaard (34)

Defenders: Evra (3), Ferdinand(5), Brown W (6), Smalling (12), Vidic (15), Fabio(20), Rafael(21), O'Shea (22), Evans J (23), Gill(45)

Midfielders: Anderson (8), Giggs (11), Park (13), Carrick (16), Nani (17), Scholes (18), Fletcher (24), Valencia (25), Gibson (28), Norwood(47)

Forwards: Owen (7), Berbatov (9), Rooney (10), Hernandez (14), Obertan (26), Bebe (33), King(41), Keane W(48)

No UCL delight for Owen Hargreaves.

 The big question is, will Owen be ever be able to play club football?!?

Valencia to make a comeback against Marseille at Old Trafford

Antonio Valencia, who got injured in the Champions League against Rangers is making progress to face Marseille at home.

United winger Antonio Valencia is returning to his full fitness and might face Marseille in the second leg of the knockout stage of Champions League against Marseille. After getting seriously injured against Glasgow Rangers in a Champions League clash in September 2010, Valencia is making good progress to return to professional football. He needed a surgery to repair the fracture and the ligament damage he suffered in that game. Watch the injury video of the strong winger by clicking here

Although the Equadorian will miss the first away leg in France which takes place on 23rd February, he is certain to play in the home fixture on 15th March. 

This is what the manager had to say: "He's making the progress exactly the way we thought. It's looking like the end of February or beginning of March." Sir Alex added "He should be back training in five to six weeks time, but given the extent of the injury, we'll give him more time to get into the full flow of things"

Rio Ferdinand recently tweeted about Valencia's progress  "I saw Valencia in the gym today...the guy throws the wieghts around like how I threw @RobbieSavage8 about! #strongestwingerinthegame #fact "

The month of March is very crucial for Manchester United. We face Chelsea on 1st March followed by Liverpool on 5th March and Marseille in the Champions League 10 days later. Valencia's name on United's squad sheet would definitely bolster United's attack and perhaps maintain our defeatless run.