Sir Alex Ferguson may have rested a raft of players for the
midweek dead rubber against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but he will
name a full strength team to face West Ham on Sunday.
The Reds are looking to celebrate before lifting the Premiership
trophy with victory over the Hammers, but more than that Sir Alex
does not want to give an unfair advantage to any team in the
relegation fight by fielding a weakened team.
"We have to respect the position of the other teams at the bottom,"
he says. "Paul Jewell has done a fantastic job at Wigan, as has
Neil Warnock at Sheffield United. So I cannot be putting a team on
the pitch that disrespects those teams.
"We also have our own reputation to think about, so although I am a
great friend of Alan Curbishley, he understands the position I am
in and knows I will be playing my strongest team on Sunday."
Against Chelsea the United manager made eight changes to the side
that beat Manchester City 1-0, handing a first league starts to
Kieran Lee and Chris Eagles, and a club debut to Dong
Fangzhuo.
Sir Alex looks set to recall a host of regular first-team players
for the match against the Hammers, who are in a three-way battle
with Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic to avoid relegation.
Curbishleys men need either a point on Sunday, or the Blades to
win or draw against Wigan at Bramall Lane to guarantee their
survival. But it may come down to goal difference if Wigan win and
the Hammers are defeated, which would put all three clubs level on
38 points.