Manchester United look to seal the league at Wigan

Manchester United boss sir Alex Ferguson is sweating on the fitness of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans ahead of tonight's key clash with Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. If Man United cruise to victory at the JJB Stadium tonight as expected, they will be just one point away from retaining the league.

Mindful of not taking anything for granted, Sir Alex will take the strongest possible squad the short distance to Wigan, with Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick likely to return to the squad. Should Ferdinand and Evans miss the game, then John O'Shea is expected to partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence.

Both Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo are also likely to feature tonight, despite their respective displays of emotion during the Mancunian display on Sunday. Tevez cupped his ear seemingly in the direction of the directors' box at Old Trafford after scoring the second goal of the match, while Ronaldo reacted with pique and disgust after being substituted in the second half.

Tevez's advisers have claimed the gesture was aimed at the press, not the Old Trafford hierarchy, and have also dismissed reports that the Argentinean could leave Man Utd for Liverpool in the close season. Both players received a warning from Wigan boss Steve Bruce yesterday, himself a former United legend, who told them they would be jeopardising their playing careers if they left  Old Trafford.

"Once you leave Old Trafford you find it very difficult. It's a step down," he said. "Not many have gone on to do well elsewhere and that applies whether you have been a reserve, a kid or have been in the first team for 10 years. It is very, very difficult to adjust."

WHAT THEY ARE SAYINGDaniel Taylor, the Guardian: "Ronaldo's fit of pique after being substituted against Manchester City on Sunday not only left him open to allegations of showing a lack of respect towards his manager but also an apparent inability to comprehend what is uppermost in Ferguson's mind, namely that United are going into unexplored territory over the next few weeks in terms of the side's ­powers of endurance. Tonight will be their 63rd game of the season, and by the time an already epic campaign reaches its conclusion in Rome in a fortnight's time they will have played more games (66 in 290 days) than any other season in their 131-year history."

Oliver Kay, the Times: "Beating Wigan at the JJB Stadium tonight will bring another title within touching distance for United, who could then secure the trophy on home territory by drawing against Arsenal on Saturday. A third consecutive league title would equal Liverpool’s long-standing record of 18 championships and leave United confident of overtaking their Merseyside rivals next season. It is Liverpool who have pushed Ferguson’s team hardest this season, but Rio Ferdinand pointed yesterday to his team’s success in emerging from the shadow of the Arsenal 'Invincibles' of 2004 and Chelsea’s title-winning sides of 2005 and 2006 as central to what he believes is a new era of domination. " ·