Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew doesn't believe they face weakened Manchester United tonight.

Pardew insists that as long as United retain the trophy, they deserve every ounce of the respect he and his players will afford them.

He said: "They still hold the medals, and that says a lot for a squad. They are the champions and you have to respect that.

"I was there on Saturday for the (Blackburn) game and I know he (Ferguson) is going to be very, very disappointed on the back of that game and he will be bringing that to his dressing room and into our stadium on Wednesday night."