Cristiano Ronaldo could be on the bench, too, as Ferguson decides whether he needs to play safe with the world player of the year, who has endured a turbulent week, harshly booked for diving on Sunday before being clattered from behind by Steven Taylor at St James' Park.
Given Ferguson stated afterwards he expected Taylor to be punished by the Football Association, it is fair to assume the United boss would not have been impressed to learn Soho Square officials have no power to take any further action as referee Steve Bennett reviewed the incident - which he missed at the time - on video and declared it worthy of a yellow card.
Bennett has already sent Ronaldo off twice before, once at Portsmouth and again at Manchester City earlier this season. Arsene Wenger said today that he feels that Ronaldo is not being protected by referees because he shows too much arrogance on the pitch.
That is not a view likely to be shared by Ferguson who feels the 24-year-old winger's extreme talent is making him fair game.
"Ronaldo is an easy target for the referees," he said.
"It is easy to give decisions against him because he is such a great player and he is so celebrated.
"When he is away from home every crowd boos him, so he has to handle that. But it is not helping him."
