MANCHESTER, England, Dec 21 - England captain David Beckham is expected to return to the Manchester United team Saturday as the champions attempt to continue their revival at home to Southampton in the English Premier League.

The inspirational England captain has been forced to sit out four games with a back injury that manager Alex Ferguson puts down to his exertions while helping England qualify for the World Cup finals.

Ferguson will also include midfielder Ryan Giggs in the strongest squad he has fielded for several weeks, while striker Andy Cole is fit again after coming through a reserve game on Thursday.

Giggs made an immediate impact as a substitute last Saturday at Middlesbrough, where he set up Ruud van Nistelrooy’s winner.

“It was a terrific performance by Ryan against Middlesbrough, and I thought it was the ideal time for him to come on,” Ferguson told Manchester United Radio.

“He’s had another week’s training behind him now so he should be even better.

“It wasn’t exactly a hamstring pull he had this time, it was more to do with the back. He’s been doing a lot of gym work to strengthen his back and hamstring.”

Another win for United would put them firmly back in the title chase, particularly as surprise leaders Newcastle, who they trail by six points, take on third-placed Leeds.

Ferguson is confident of defeating a Southampton side managed by former United player Gordon Strachan.

He said: “Our record is very good against them, but at this stage I’m not looking at records or who we’re playing — I’m looking at Manchester United.”

“We’ve definitely got to maintain our form of the last two games and get some consistency. I don’t know if Gordon Strachan knows us any better than anyone else.

“Anyone who’s seen us over the last nine years knows how we play, so we’re not going to surprise anyone.”—Reuters