Doyle warns of size of Cup task facing United

The 28-year-old midfielder, on a season-long loan at Elland Road, was in the Coventry City side that memorably triumphed 2-0 at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup third round two seasons ago.

Doyle will return to the home of the Premier League champions tomorrow in the FA Cup third round hoping for a repeat.

However, he is experienced enough to appreciate the size of the task facing League One Leeds even if, as expected,

Sir Alex Ferguson opts to rest several of his star names.

Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post ahead of tomorrow's eagerly-anticipated 'War of the Roses' clash, Doyle said: "I doubt anyone involved with Coventry that night will ever forget the win at Old Trafford.

"Fans would tell me that after the FA Cup final win of 1987, it was their second favourite memory of supporting the club. It was a night when everything went right.

"Sunday will be very different because the Manchester United team that faced Coventry was not the strongest. I remember the teamsheets coming through before kick-off and the big names were missing. Everyone suddenly thought 'we could do this'.

"(Manager) Iain Dowie then got into us by saying things like 'this is our night, we can beat them' and everyone raised their game. It was a great night and the celebrations with the 11,000 Coventry fans afterwards will stay with me for ever.

"They may rest some of their star players in the FA Cup but this time, even if they leave out Wayne Rooney, it only means Michael Owen will probably play.

"And you only have to look at what Owen did the last time he started a game with that hat-trick against Wolfsburg to see the strength in depth they have.

"Don't get me wrong, there were still plenty of good players in the team that faced Coventry. Even those who have since left are still playing in the Premier League with other clubs.

"But now the strength in depth Sir Alex Ferguson has is ridiculous and that is bound to make it very, very tough."

The Old Trafford team that lost to two goals from Michael Mifsud in September 2007 included Tomasz Kuszczak, Jonny Evans, Anderson, John O'Shea, Nani, Chris Eagles and Fraizer Campbell.

Both Eagles and Campbell have since moved on, to Burnley and Sunderland respectively, but several of the others could be in the side to face Leeds tomorrow alongside the likes of Owen and Gary Neville.

Ferguson will be mindful of the looming Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie against Manchester City on Wednesday night when selecting his team but, whichever XI starts, the atmosphere at a sold-out Old Trafford is certain to be white hot.

Leeds will go into the game on a high after moving eight points clear at the top of League One last Monday courtesy of a 4-2 victory over Stockport County.

Simon Grayson's men have already faced top-flight opposition this season when Liverpool triumphed 1-0 at Elland Road in the Carling Cup third round.

Reds defender Jamie Carragher paid Leeds a huge compliment afterwards by saying the narrow win had been one of their toughest games of the season.

Dublin-born Doyle, an ever-present in the league this term, believes the endorsement can give the League One outfit hope ahead of tomorrow's tie.

He said: "We have a bit of experience in our side to go with the good young players we also have. The most important thing is we do ourselves justice.

"Whatever side is put in front of us, we have to face it head on and then hope to get the rub of the green. Shocks do happen, Coventry showed that.

"We are massive underdogs, which will be something of a novelty for us, but there is always a chance. We are on a great run and have become a hard team to beat.

"We showed that against Liverpool when, if anything, we missed a great opportunity to go through. I had a really good chance in that game but could not take advantage. If one comes along at Old Trafford, I can't afford to pass it up."

Leeds on way back to top – ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson feels Leeds United will be back in the Premier League within a couple of years.

In Ripon-born Simon Grayson, Manchester United's manager believes Leeds have the man who can turn the dream of returning to the top flight into reality.

"They will not be too far away from the Premier League in the next couple of years," said the champions' boss.

"When you look at the position they are in at the moment in League One, they look certain to be in the Championship next year.

"And with the motivation and drive that is coming from the manager, they have a great chance of going further. Some people have targets in life. He has reached his and his team are not letting him down."