Fit to face Reading

Cristiano Ronaldo has shaken off the heavy cold which kept him out of United's win over Charlton last weekend, and is fit to face Reading on Saturday. The United winger was sidelined by a cold, but Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Ronaldo is available for the FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford.

The Reds' boss has one eye on the Champions League last 16 trip to Lille on Tuesday and will therefore make two or three changes to the side ahead of the tea-time clash with the Royals.

Wayne Rooney is suspended after accumulating five domestic bookings, while broken nose victim Edwin van der Sar will be saved for the trip to France, meaning Tomasz Kuszczak will continue in goal.

“I will make two or three changes,” he confirmed. “Tomasz will come in for Edwin. I’m hopeful of having Edwin back for Tuesday. Wayne Rooney, of course, is suspended, but Cristiano is fit to play. He had flu last week but he is OK now."

The boss also made sure that he quickly repelled the now weekly reference to rumours linking Ronaldo with a move away from the club, insisting that the Glazers, United's owners, would refuse any offers for the Portuguese international.

"I am very confident that we will keep Ronaldo," he said. "The Glazers are the owners and we would obviously have to refer the matter to them, but they have been fantastic so far. From my point of view, though, the speculation about Ronaldo is not even worth mentioning."

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