Ferguson set to give Nani chance to fight for his United future

ALEX FERGUSON is set to hand Nani a chance to show he has a Manchester United future tonight.

The Red Devils boss is poised to make wholesale changes as he takes his team to Chelsea for the second time in four days.

Fergie will rest his star names for the Capital One Cup clash, with one eye on the Saturday lunchtime kick-off against Arsenal.

He said: “Obviously we will make changes for Wednesday’s game. The squad that played against Newcastle in the last round will be in place again.

“You don’t want to lose down there and we want to continue in the cup.

“Any game down there is going to be tough. There has been good progress there since Roberto Di Matteo took the job. They are big games — and big games are good for us.”

One of those likely to be thrown in is Portuguese wing ace Nani, who has slipped out of the first-team picture.

That is bad news for him with his contract due to expire in the summer of 2014 and with talks over a new deal on hold.

Ashley Young returned from injury and went straight back into the team on Sunday, while Antonio Valencia is also ahead of Nani in the pecking order.

Nani also did himself no favours when he allegedly had a training-ground punch-up with team-mate Davide Petrucci last month.

He is believed to be keen to stay at Old Trafford but needs to start showing his best form to convince Ferguson.

The game comes too soon for crocked defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

That should be good news for centre-back Michael Keane, 19, who impressed in the win over Newcastle in round three.

He said: “I know there are probably only going to be one or two opportunities because of the players involved but I can’t think like that.”