SIR Alex Ferguson will take the plight of other clubs into account should Manchester United find themselves heading to Hull next week with the Premier League title already secure.
It is expected United will clinch their 18th championship by avoiding defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford tomorrow.
If the Red Devils achieve that target, it would render their final game at the KC Stadium, for them, meaningless.
For Ferguson it seems like the ideal scenario, offering the opportunity for a full weekend of rest ahead of the Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome on May 27.
Yet United are also acutely aware that fielding a much-weakened team could effectively hand three points to Hull and help ensure the survival of Phil Brown's men at the expense of Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough or West Brom, who are also scrapping for survival at the foot of the league.
Then Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock condemned Ferguson for playing a number of youngsters in their final game against West Ham two years ago, when Carlos Tevez scored to keep the Hammers up.
However, Ferguson insists he will take the views of Hull's rivals into account before deciding what team to pick.
"I cannot approach the Hull game until we get this out of the road," he said.
"If we win then I have to assess what is best for Manchester United and be fair to other clubs too."
If the Red Devils achieve that target, it would render their final game at the KC Stadium, for them, meaningless.
For Ferguson it seems like the ideal scenario, offering the opportunity for a full weekend of rest ahead of the Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome on May 27.
Yet United are also acutely aware that fielding a much-weakened team could effectively hand three points to Hull and help ensure the survival of Phil Brown's men at the expense of Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough or West Brom, who are also scrapping for survival at the foot of the league.
Then Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock condemned Ferguson for playing a number of youngsters in their final game against West Ham two years ago, when Carlos Tevez scored to keep the Hammers up.
However, Ferguson insists he will take the views of Hull's rivals into account before deciding what team to pick.
"I cannot approach the Hull game until we get this out of the road," he said.
"If we win then I have to assess what is best for Manchester United and be fair to other clubs too."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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