Ferguson to give Beckham a break
David Beckham could have a week away from football in the aftermath of an alleged plot to kidnap his wife.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will field a weakened team in Tuesday's League Cup game against Leicester City at Old Trafford, with Beckham certain to miss out. He is also suspended for Saturday's derby clash with Manchester City at Maine Road.
With United already qualified for the second phase of the Champions League he might also be excused duty from their final first phase game against Bayer Leverkusen next week.
Beckham has not yet said whether he intends to take the opportunity for a rare mid-season holiday and will be meeting Ferguson later on Monday to discuss his plans.
The manager, meanwhile, has made it clear that he will stick with his policy of playing a second-string team in the League Cup, a competition he has little interest in.
Since losing to Aston Villa in the 1994 final, United's best performance was in reaching the quarter-finals in 1998/99.
They have suffered defeats at the hands of York City and Leicester, as well as a 4-0 loss at Arsenal last season.
"I will be playing a mixture of first team and reserves," Ferguson said on Monday.
"We have been unlucky in the Worthington (League) Cup over the years, getting away draws to Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland," Ferguson said.
"Being away from home when you have younger players in your team makes it much more difficult. Although we have played very well in those games, we have been knocked out."
Ferguson fielded an inexperienced team in last week's Champions League game against Maccabi Haifa in Cyprus last week and saw them thumped 3-0 by the Israelis.
United do have home advantage against a Leicester side relegated from the premier league last season but now second in the first division despite being in administration due to financial problems.
"It is not nice to see they are in financial difficulties," Ferguson said. "They are a club with great tradition but they will be coming thinking they have a chance."
