Manchester United conclude their Tour 2010 with a match against the MLS All-Stars at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
United come into the match following a discouraging 2-1 defeat to the Kansas City Wizards in front of 52,424 at Arrowhead Stadium, so they will be looking to restore their image as one of the most powerful clubs in the world.
United will try to do what no other Barclays Premier League team has ever done - defeat the best group of players that Major League Soccer has to offer in regulation.
In the previous four teams - Fulham, Chelsea, West Ham United and Everton - have all failed in their attempts to beat the MLS All-Stars in regulation, but the latter defeated them on penalty kicks last season.
Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy, who met in last season's MLS Cup, are the most represented clubs on the MLS All-Star Game roster with four each. Due to their exertions yesterday, there will not be any Wizard players involved in the MLS All-Star game.
Debut
All of United supporters' eyes will be on their newest signing Javier 'Chicarito' Hernandez who will be joining up with his new teammates for the first time.
Chicarito starred for Mexico at the FIFA 2010 World Cup this summer by scoring two goals and leading the Tri-colors to the knockout rounds of the competition.
It proved to be another wise move by Sir Alex Ferguson to move quickly and snap up the 21-year old striker before other clubs saw his raw talents.
After his team has struggled to find good form in the last two matches on the tour, the United manager will be embracing Hernandez's arrival with open arms.
United's young players must do better in this match to prove that they deserve a place in the first-team squad for this coming season. The match against the Wizards did everything but convince the supporters that the club has players which will take them forward.
Risk
Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea will more than likely not play any part in the match against the All-Star game.
Fletcher seem to pick up a knock prior to the open training session, and the Scottish midfielder was seen jogging with one of the fitness coaches on the adjacent fields.
It is unclear what injury O'Shea is carrying, but since the United defender missed the majority of the second-half of last season, the Gaffer will not be taking any chances with his fitness.
Manchester United is a club that always seems to strive after a loss or when they are faced with adversity, and the match against eh MLS All-Stars will definitely test the character of the players.
Visit One United USA's official Tour 2010 site - unitedinthestates.blogspot.com - for the latest updates and information about the training sessions for the United States part of United's tour. The can be seen live on ESPN2 at 8.30pm EST.
MLS All-Stars
Goalkeepers: D. Ricketts (LA Galaxy), N. Rimando (Real Salt Lake); O. Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), C. Marshall (Columbus Crew), J. Olave (Real Salt Lake), K. Alston (NE Revolution), J. Bornstein (Chivas USA), H. Pearce (FC Dallas); K. Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), D. De Rosario (Toronto FC), J. Morales (Real Salt Lake), M. Pappa (Chicago Fire), G. Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), S. Joseph (NE Revolution), J. Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), B. Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), S. Le Toux (Philadelphia Union), D. Ferreira (FC Dallas), B. Davis (Houston Dynamo),
; E. Buddle (LA Galaxy), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), J. P. Angel (NY Red Bulls), B. Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jaime Moreno (DC United), W. Conde (Chicago Fire)
Squad
Goalkeepers: E. van der Sar, T. Kuszczak, B. Amos; Defenders: W. Brown, R. De Laet, J. Evans, Fabio, J.O'Shea, Rafael, C. Smalling; Midfielders: T. Cleverley, D. Fletcher, C. Evans, D. Gibson, R. Giggs, Nani, G. Obertan, P. Scholes; Forwards: D. Berbatov, M. B. Diouf, J. Hernandez (Houston - 7/27), F. Macheda, D. Welbeck
Prediction
MLS All-Stars 2, Manchester United 3
Contributed by David Hammons / United View From Abroad
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