However, Saha was not the Red Devils’ travelling party which headed out to the Ukraine today, raising fresh doubts over his long-term fitness.

England duo Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves were also missing but Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic, who sat out the Villa Park win, was in the squad, even though Alex Ferguson remains unconvinced the former Spartak Moscow player will be available after suffering concussion during the Premier League win over Wigan immediately before the international break.

Ferguson said after the Villa Park win: “Vidic is a doubt for Tuesday. He trained on Friday but he is still feeling some reaction to the knock he got against Wigan.

“In that situation you can’t take a chance. I’m hopeful he will be ready. We will see how he is. He will be close but I’m not so sure he will be ready to play in Kiev.”

If Vidic is ruled out then Wes Brown is likely to partner Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the United back four.

Ferguson reported no fresh injury concerns from Saturday’s win which was so comfortable in the end that Cristiano Ronaldo was not required to play a single minute.