Red-hot Rooney to torment travel-sick Celtic

Carlos Tevez and Anderson could return when a Wayne Rooney-inspired Manchester United lock horns with Celtic in the Champions League.

The pair were given the luxury of Saturday off when United eventually hit their straps to destroy West Brom 4-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford because of their international exploits, with Argentina and Brazil respectively.

And punters pondering a £10 free bet may feel they will give the defending champions more attacking bite as they prepare to welcome the SPL leaders, who will be without Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Andreas Hinkel, while Georgios Samaras (cartilage), Gary Caldwell (ankle) and Marc Crosas (hamstring) are huge doubts.

Sir Alex Ferguson hinted the duo could be involved when he told MUTV: "We have a squad which should be able to cope with the number of games we are facing, and we have enough experience in different positions."

Ferguson will be hoping red-hot Rooney can deliver on his promise of continuing his rich run of form against the Scottish champions.

The England striker managed just one goal from the opening eight games in all competitions this season but has found the net six times since the 2-0 win over Bolton on September 27 - including the Champions League win in Aalborg and World Cup qualifying victory over Belarus.

Rooney warned: "I know I can play better. I know I can get better, so I've got to keep working on the training ground and, hopefully, there will be better performances to come."

United had to rely on fans' favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to seal an edgy 3-2 win over the Bhoys at Old Trafford in September 2006 before falling to a late Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick in the return leg at Celtic Park.

However, compare Celtic's woeful record on the road in Europe's premier club competition - played 16, lost 15 and drawn one - to United's proud home statistics - they last lost in March 2005 - and, on paper at least, the omens look good for a home win.