FA Cup: Beckham and Veron out of United squad
Middlesbrough target Dwight Yorke was handed a seat on Manchester United’s bench as the champions attempted to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round at the Riverside Stadium.
And he was in good company as Sir Alex Ferguson rested in-form striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Ryan Giggs and did not even include David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron in the 16.
Nicky Butt, Luke Chadwick, Ronnie Wallwork and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were all drafted into the starting line-up as United looked to bounce back from their midweek Premiership defeat by Liverpool.
Former United number two Steve McClaren, by contrast, was forced to ring the changes as Robbie Mustoe returned for the suspended Paul Ince and Colin Cooper and Dean Windass were asked to deputise for injured duo Ugo Ehiogu and Szilard Nemeth.
Middlesbrough: Crossley, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Stockdale, Greening, Mustoe, Johnston, Marinelli, Windass, Whelan.
Subs: Beresford, Campbell, Ricard, Wilson, Gavin.
Man Utd: Barthez, Gary Neville, Blanc, Phil Neville, Silvestre, Wallwork, Keane, Butt, Chadwick, Scholes, Solskjaer.
Subs: van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Carroll, Yorke, O’Shea.
Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)
