Fabio Da Silva was given a rare start by Ferguson in the Champions League match with Rangers. Only Darren Fletcher remained from the Everton eleven and there were welcome returns to the starting eleven for Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney with Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez making their Champions League debuts.

Chris Smalling has said that he is not unfazed by challenge for places provided by players like Fabio da Silva. The 20-year-old went to Old Trafford this summer for £10million from Fulham in one of the most eyebrow-raising transfers so far after agreeing a deal back in January.

It has been a meteoric rise to success for the young centre-back, who was plucked from obscurity by Roy Hodgson two years ago to move to Craven Cottage from non-league Maidstone.

Manchester United fullback Fabio da Silva says that he is aware of the great expectations on himself and twin brother Rafael.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects both players to be big stars at Old Trafford.

And Fabio da Silva said: "The night before I first moved here, I never slept. I was wondering what would happen. Here everything is different, but we are adapting.