Sir Alex says he will be taking a strong squad to St Mary’s for the FA Cup fourth round tie against Southampton despite being without a handful of first team regulars.

Edwin van der Sar has been given the weekend off, while Patrice Evra (family bereavement) and Rafael (concussion) will not be travelling. Michael Carrick, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, is expected to be available providing he comes through training on Friday.

“Michael will train today and hopefully he will be okay to travel,” the boss told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

“We picked up one or two bruises at Blackpool the other night - it was quite a physical game, but we’ll still take a strong squad because it won’t be an easy match; away games in cup ties never are.

“I went to see Southampton play Oldham earlier this month and they won 6-0. They're having a good season. They play good football and I'm sure they'll have a go."

Sir Alex has a decision to make on who takes over in goal for the Reds with new signing Anders Lindegaard and Tomasz Kuszczak both vying for a starting spot.

"It's a possibility [a debut for Anders],” confirmed the manager. “He and Tomasz will both travel."

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has claimed he will hand in his resignation after the club was fined by the Premier League for fielding a weakened team.

Holloway made ten changes to his side for a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in October and afterwards said: "If I got fined for picking a weakened team I would resign - I would pack it in."

He argued that he should be fully entitled to select any players he wished from the 25-man squad but, just as Wolves were fined for making ten changes for a defeat to Manchester United last season, the Premier League took action.

Holloway has now insisted that he will follow through with his threat.

"He (the chairman) will be getting my resignation because that is how strongly I feel," he told the Blackpool Gazette. "It is up to him whether he chooses to take it.

"I don't know who I am working for. I have done the best job I could for this club and have tried to win every single game, including the game at Aston Villa."

Chairman Karl Oyston, though, has stressed that he has no intention of allowing Holloway to walk away.

"I absolutely would not accept his resignation and I would fight to the death to keep him in his post," he said. "He has done fantastically well and deserves to manage at this level for ever.

"It would be absolutely ridiculous if Ian felt compelled to resign because of what is an unjust decision and he shouldn't compound that by stopping doing what he is doing so well."

Oyston also said on Friday afternoon that he has not yet received a letter of resignation from Holloway.

Several Premier League managers have come out in support of the Blackpool since the fine was announced.

"You are allowed to have 25 players," Sir Alex Ferguson said. "They ask you to name them. They don't ask you to name your 11 and 14 substitutes. The rules are there."

Arsene Wenger added: "His team was not weak because they nearly made a good result at Aston Villa. They lost in the last minute. I can understand why he rotated the team, because it was with close games, so I have sympathy.

"It is a rule which may be looked at, especially if you limit the squad. If you have an unlimited squad the rule is very good.

"If you have a limited squad like it is now when you can only have 25 players, I feel this rule should go. Every club now has 25 top-level players who can cope with the Premier League."

Gerard Houllier, who has been involved in a public spat with Holloway over Aston Villa's pursuit of Charlie Adam, said: "I hope his chairman will hold him back.

"Despite what happened, he is a good manager. He has done a good job. He can behave stupidly and still be a good manager. I think he has done a fantastic job and I like the way his team play."