However, what pleases Solskjaer more than his goals is his general play. The 29-year-old feels he has reached a new level this season and is playing the best football ever.

‘‘Yeah, I think this is my best season,’’ said the Norwegian international.

‘‘I think this is the best team I’ve played in, so maybe that’s a natural consequence.

‘‘But I don’t rate myself by how many goals I score. That’s great, but I play for the team and that’s the most important thing.

‘‘I think my overall game has improved this season. I’m getting stronger, I’m getting more experienced and I’ve played for a long time now.’’

Solskjaer has also benefited from Ferguson’s clear out of his strikers. He has been become Ruud van Nistelrooy’s preferred strike partner because of the departures of Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke’s terminal fall from grace.

Solskjaer will have even more responsibility tonight in the Estadio Do Bessa and he will lead the United attack, along with Diego Forlan, because van Nistelrooy is out with a groin injury.

Forlan will make his first start in the Champions League and Solskjaer has been impressed with the Uruguayan.

He feels it is only a matter of time before he scores his first goal for United.

‘‘He has been looking lively,’’ he said. ‘‘If you see him in training, his finishing ability is something we know is going to get many goals for us.

‘‘His first goal is going to come for him and he will be a great asset for us.’’

In addition to van Nistelrooy, United must also do without the injured Juan Veron and Roy Keane.

Keane has a hip injury, while Veron took a knock on his heel and was due to have a scan amid fears that he may have broken a bone.

Their absence means Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes will be reunited in the heart of the United midfield.

Alex Ferguson said: ‘‘They both have a long time’s experience with this club.

‘‘If you go back a few years, they played there very well when Roy Keane was out with his cruciate injury, so that’s not a problem for us.’’

Victory will guarantee United top spot in Group A, which would mean they would avoid favourites Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Boavista are already out and the Portuguese champions aim to end their campaign on a high by beating United.

Coach Jaime Pacheco said: ‘‘We always play good at home and we want to finish our games in this season’s Champions League competition with a victory.’’

Boavista, who are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League home games, are missing Pedrosa, Rui Oscar and Bosingwa through injury.

Boavista (probable): Ricardo, Frechaut, Paulo Turra, Pedro Emanuel, Mario Loja, Sanchez, Jorge Silva, Petit, Duda, Martelinho, Silva.

Manchester United (probable): Barthez; Silvestre, Blanc, Johnsen, G Neville, Giggs, Butt, Scholes, Beckham, Forlan, Solskjaer.