Champions League last 16 first leg
Venue: San Siro Date: Tuesday 16 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT Coverage: BBC Sport website, Final Score, BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports Two
**Nemanja Vidic will miss the first leg of Manchester United’s last-16 Champions League tie against AC Milan.**The Serbian defender is yet to play in 2010 because of a nerve problem in a leg and did not travel to Italy.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson must now decide whether Jonny Evans or Wes Brown join Rio Ferdinand in central defence.
Ryan Giggs is also out of Tuesday’s game after breaking an arm in the draw at Aston Villa and fellow midfielder Anderson is not in the squad.
United flew out Italy on Monday morning ahead of their meeting with seven-time champions of Europe Milan, who have beaten the Premier League outfit on all four occasions they have met in a two-legged European tie.
Milan midfielder David Beckham, who is on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy, is poised to face United for the first time since he left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2003.
Despite missing the tie, Giggs knows all about Beckham from their time together at United and and he expects the 34-year-old former England captain to be operating at the highest level for some time yet.
“We are different in the sense he has been in the limelight, front page and back, while I prefer to keep myself to myself,” said Giggs. "But I still speak to him. He has not changed as a person.
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"He has always loved football. He has always been dedicated and that is still the same now. Like myself, Becks looks after himself.
“He is naturally fit and is a natural athlete, so I am not surprised he is still going at all. In fact, I reckon he will keep going for another three or four years.”
Beckham’s 12-year United career came to an end when Ferguson let him leave for Real amid reports that the pair’s relationship had become strained.
However, Beckham shook hands with his old mentor before last season’s Champions League match between United and Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Beckham is due to return to Old Trafford in a playing capacity for the first time since his departure on 10 March, when United host Milan in the second leg.
“We had a couple of chances to meet when he was at Real Madrid but it is great that it will finally happen and great for Becks to come back,” stated Giggs.
“It will be fantastic for the fans to see him again because he was a great player for United and still is a great player for England and Milan and in America as well.”
But Giggs is acutely aware of the threat posed by Beckham and has warned United not to get sucked into the nostalgia surrounding the occasion.
“I hope he doesn’t do anything nasty to us,” added the Welshman. "He is a quality player and has always risen to the occasion.
"With the right foot he has he can just ping balls 50 yards or make a five or 10-yard pass. He has amazing accuracy.
“And we must try not to give free-kicks away from 25 or 30 yards out because he is capable of putting them into the top corner. Hopefully he will enjoy it - but not that much.”’