Saha and Brown may now be in contention for a the team on Saturday. The Mirror put this spin on Brown’s inclusion in the reserve team:
‘Wes Brown’s Manchester United future was thrown into fresh doubt last night - when he was dumped in the reserves. On the day before the one-time golden boy could have been involved in England's World Cup plans he was left disappointed and disillusioned in the stiffs.
‘Boss Sir Alex Ferguson forced Brown to play in the 2-1 mini-derby defeat to Manchester City. Brown has been singled out by Ferguson lately because he refuses to sign a new deal. Since Rio Ferdinand returned Brown has been squeezed out and he could not even get a game at centre-half for the reserves.
‘Instead Brown was at right-back and his body language suggested he did not think much of the idea.’