PARIS (AFP) - England teenage star Wayne Rooney looks set to make his eagerly-awaited Manchester United debut in Champions League action against Fenerbahce though England teammates at Real Madrid David Beckham and Michael Owen are doubts for the Spanish giants' clash with Roma.
The Old Trafford Group D fixture against the Turks would also be the first competitive fixture for the 18-year-old, 27-million-pound striker since he broke a bone in his foot during England's Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat by Portugal in June.
United manager Alex Ferguson was positively euphoric at the thought of the former Everton star making his debut.
"It is very exciting," he said. "He definitely has a chance of playing on Tuesday and it is a toss of the coin whether he will be on the bench or he will start the game."
Rooney's possible inclusion is generating excitement at the club with hopes running high that he can have the same galvanising effect on the team as Frenchman Eric Cantona did in the 1990s.
United started their Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw with French champions Lyon a fortnight ago while Fenerbahce recorded a 1-0 win over Czech Republic outfit Sparta Prague.
The Turks will no doubt be buoyed by the fact they were the first team to win a European tie at Old Trafford following a 1-0 win in a Champions League group match in 1996.
Meanwhile, England captain David Beckham is doubtful for Real Madrid's Group B match against Roma after suffering from a high temperature on Sunday.
"He's got some kind of virus and a fever. We will have to see how he goes over the next 48 hours," said a Real spokesman.
Beckham missed Sunday's training session but he was already suffering from aches and pains acquired in Real's 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
"He (Beckham) has some little niggles," said Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon after the game.
The fever and minor injuries may save Remon from having to drop Beckham after another poor performance, in which he was substituted after 58 minutes of Real's latest loss.
Beckham's England teammate Owen had a thigh strain in training last week and did not travel to Bilbao at the weekend and is doubtful against Roma.
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has picked out Brazil's Rivaldo and Giovanni as the key players to watch in their Group A fixture at Olympiakos.
Spain's Benitez will lead out his men at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium having no doubt told them a great deal about the former Barcelona players in their bid for only their second way win this season.
"I have seen the video of their last match and they have some very good players, they will be a tough proposition for us, I have no doubt about that," the Reds boss told Liverpool's internet site.
"In Rivaldo and Giovanni they have two very good Brazilian players, so a lot of their football is played on the floor. They usually play short passes, and are a good side and we will need to play well over there on Tuesday night."
Juventus coach Fabio Capello could be without three of his most influential players for Tuesday's Group C match at home to Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Dynamic Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, central defender Fabio Cannavaro and French striker David Trezeguet all picked up injuries in Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw at home to Palermo.
Under-pressure European giants Bayern Munich and Ajax lock horns at the Olympic stadium in Group C.
Having lost 1-0 to Juventus in their first group match, Dutch champions Ajax are under pressure to garner some points while Bayern, conquerors of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, have to convince their fans that they are capable of mounting another bid for Europe's premier trophy.
French league leaders Monaco meet Deportivo La Coruna in the Principality in Group A possibly without injured Mohamed Kallon of Sierra Leone.
Reigning French champions Lyon meanwhile visit Sparta Prague in Group D knowing the Czechs' star player Karel Poborsky is returning after back problems.