On his interest in Southampton left-back Gareth Bale, Franz Beckenbauer's admission that Bayern Munich would have to consider an offer of around £17m for Hargreaves and Alan Pardew's revelation that Darren Bent is for sale at Charlton, the United manager insisted he had nothing to declare. "I won't discuss any names, it is not fair to anyone, " he said, before adding: "But we are looking at bringing in one or two this month."

Ferguson was forthcoming on the thirtysomething Larsson who, after resisting previous overtures to join United whilst acquiring legendary status at Celtic, will make his Old Trafford debut when his tenweek loan from Helsingborgs begins against Villa and his former manager, Martin O'Neill.

"Henrik will definitely be involved, " confirmed Ferguson, who will start with Tomasz Kusczak in goal in place of the rested Edwin Van der Sar. "His training has been very good, very sharp, and he has always looked after himself so there are no concerns in that respect. I'm looking forward to it. I've admired him for many years and thought on two or three occasions that I had him, but I didn't because he was understandably very happy at Celtic. His record there was marvellous and I thought he changed the game when he came on in the European Cup Final last year. He won that trophy for Barcelona."

With Louis Saha nursing a slight groin strain Ferguson insisted he would have no qualms about partnering the Sweden international alongside 33-year-old Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although it is likely Wayne Rooney will partner one of the veteran Scandinavians in attack. "Henrik and Ole are both great goalscorers and their movement inside the penalty area is one of their great strengths. I think they can play together but I may just start with one against Villa, " he explained.

Though a veteran of 19 FA Cup campaigns himself (it would have been 20 but for the infamous withdrawal in 2000) Ferguson believes the lure of becoming the first team to lift the trophy at the new Wembley has injected a fresh incentive into this season's competition. "It is an exciting prospect for everyone, " said the United manager. "We are told it is going to be the best stadium in the world and with the amount of money they have spent on the place, it should be."

United right-back Phil Bardsley is expected to join Villa on loan until the end of the season after today's cup tie.