Barthez fights to be fit for Bayern

Sir Alex Ferguson will decide today whether he needs a replacement for injured goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

The France No.1 underwent a second scan in two days yesterday on his troublesome thigh and the Manchester United manager will await the results before deciding whether to move into the transfer market. With the Premiership title all but in the bag, Ferguson will be relatively unconcerned about acting before tomorrow's domestic transfer deadline.

His priority is the Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, with the first leg at Old Trafford onTuesday week.

Ferguson, who has permission to play a new goalkeeper in the Champions League, may turn to Blackburn's Alan Kelly if necessary. But he said: 'Fabien has had another scan and I am still hopeful he will be OK for the Bayern match.'

Barthez, who had his first scan on Monday at the France training camp in Clairefontaine, picked up his injury in the warm-up before United's victory over Leicester on Saturday.

Paul Rachubka came in for his League debut and kept a clean sheet in United's 2-0 win. Ferguson withdrew Rachubka from last night's reserve game against Leeds and the 19-year-old is likely to figure in the league game at Liverpool a week on Saturday.