United’s Champions League stalemate with Rangers last night was of course overshadowed by the shocking injury to Antonio Valencia which looks almost certain to rule the winger out for the rest of the season.

The implications of the injury to the Fantasy prospects of Nani have already been mentioned on these pages – there’s little doubt that with Valencia now out of the picture, the Portuguese trickster now looks like achieving the 30+ starts that, at his current rate of scoring, will see him easily justify his current price tag across the Fantasy Games…

The prospects of both Ji-sung Park and Ryan Giggs are also worth mentioning. With Nani running the right-flank, Alex Ferguson will surely turn to this pair to police the left. Rotation will be a constant threat but Fantasy Managers should be able to track the rotation between the pair with some confidence given that Giggs is unlikely to be handed two games within a seven day period. There could be some short-term joy to had with the Welshman and Park when United’s fixtures fall kindly.

Ferguson’s lineup last night deserves some mention. There were ten changes in all, a bizarre tactci for a Champions League fixture but a sure sign of intent ahead of the Old Trafford encounter with Liverpool on Sunday. The return of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney did of course strengthen United’s suit despite the changes.

Rooney was again busy enough but was amongst the most frustrated by the Rangers rearguard action. The striker was also troubled by an ankle knock having turned it in the same area of the field as Valencia. That’s worth monitoring, although it’s not expected that Rooney will show any ill-effects of the knock and he looks certain to be on the teamsheet against Liverpool.

Ferdinand should also be a starter, although Ferguson’s decision to rest Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans to the bench, handing a European debut to Chris Smalling, gives the United boss options ahead of Sunday’s game. There’s a chance that Ferdinand may not be quite fit enough for two games within a week just yet – hence the decision not to start Evans here. On the other hand, Ferdinand was hardly tested in last night’s encounter; he should be fresh enough.

There are still doubts on the United lineup going into Sunday then although there should be little concern over starts for Scholes, Berbatov and Nani. Their inspiration was sorely missed against Rangers and they are now automatic choices to face Roy Hodgson’s side.

Over in Germany Harry Redknapp took his Spurs side to face Werder Bremen in their first Champions League encounter. He watched on while his effervescent side dominated the opening period and crafted a two-goal lead courtesy of an own-goal and a smart Peter Crouch header. The rampant form of Gareth Bale, unshackled on the left of midfield with Assou-Ekotto behind him at full-back, was once again the feature of Tottenham’s attacking play.

It’s unclear whether Bale will be given the attacking freedom of this midfield role at the weekend. Assou-Ekotto looked exposed at times last night as Bremen clawed their way back to earn a 2-2 draw and Redknapp could well reshuffle again if Luka Modric recovers from the leg injury sustained at West Brom on Saturday. With Wolves expected to arrive at White Hart Lane with a 0-0 in mind, I’d expect Redknapp to look to start Bale at left-back and give him license to bomb forward with either Modric or Kranjcar in front of him.

A change of personnel at the back looks almost certain. Last night Redknapp brought Ledley King back into his defence, resting William Gallas who was apparently showing signs of fatigue following his debut at the Hawthorns. King is now very unlikely to lineup against Wolves, leaving Gallas to partner Kaboul in the centre with Corluka likely to retain the right-back spot.

In midfield we saw a rare start for Jermaine Jenas last night. He slotted in alongside Huddlestone with Rafael Van der Vaart pushed up in support of Crouch the lone striker. That system was tweaked early in the second-half as the Dutchman picked up a knock which has made him an early doubt for the clash with Wolves. That could well see Robbie Keane or Roman Pavlyuchenko earn a start on Sunday, depending on the availability of Modric.