Man Utd v Wolverhampton

Carling Cup third round
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 23 September Kick-off: 2000 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC local radio, BBC Radio 5 live, full commentary on 5 live sports extra, live on Sky Sports 2 & highlights on The League Cup Show

TEAM NEWS

Michael Owen is expected to start for Manchester United following his dramatic winner in Sunday's derby.

Sir Alex Ferguson will make several changes, with Tomasz Kuszczak and Wes Brown among those likely to play.

Wolves could hand starts to winger Michael Kightly and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who both made their comebacks from injury on Sunday.

Stefan Maierhofer could also make his full debut. He has scored one goal in two substitute appearances. 

MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United have reason to be wary as they begin their defence of the Carling Cup. Despite winning the competition for the third time last season they have proved vulnerable in the third round, losing at this stage in ten of the last 25 years.

Not that United will be lacking in belief, whatever side they select. Their stoppage-time victory over cross-city rivals Manchester City on Sunday was their fifth in a row.

Wolves have only progressed beyond this round once in the last 12 years, despite not having faced a Premier League side since losing 5-1 at Arsenal six years ago.

Wolves also have a dreadful record at Old Trafford, and only reached this round with a penalty shootout win at home to Swindon. However, Saturday's victory over Fulham ended a three-match winless streak and saw the return of key players Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the first League Cup meeting of these two clubs. Manchester United won their most recent clash by 3-0 in the FA Cup fourth round in January 2006.

• Wolves last won - and scored - at Old Trafford in a top-flight game in February 1980.

Manchester United

• United have won their last five games in all competitions, and hold a 100% winning record in three matches at Old Trafford this season.

• They have not been knocked out by a Premier League club since Chelsea won their semi-final tie in 2005.

• Ryan Giggs is still looking for his 150th Manchester United goal, John O'Shea could make his 350th appearance for the club and Darron Gibson could face the club with whom he was on loan for most of 2007/08.

Wolves

• Wolves won the League Cup in 1974 and 1980 but since playing in the quarter-finals in 1996 they have only reached the fourth round once (2003/04).

• It is 14 years since Wolves last eliminated a Premier League club; Coventry in the fourth round in November 1995.

• Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Jones were both Manchester United trainees.