The next big day in Gary Speed's high achieving football life holds few fears for him as he approaches his first home game as a league manager.

Preston North End stand in his way at the Lane on Saturday but United's new boss is used to dealing with pressure and believes his team will do his talking for him:

"I don't really know how I will feel just before the game. Naturally, I expect a few butterflies but I don't expect them to last too long because I have confidence in the players who will help me.

"In a way there might be less tension that at Middlesbrough last week because there was a lot of hype surrounding the day and it was live on television

"We have returned to something like normality in the last week and I have been able to work on a few things in training, although we missed a day having played on Sunday.

"It has been a very busy week on and off the pitch because I have watched games virtually every night as well, but I have enjoyed it and the last few days have flown by."

Darren Ferguson, who Speed knows well from coaching qualification courses, brings opposition that has found their feet with wins over Portsmouth and Bradford City (Carling Cup) in the last week:

"I have watched them this season, seen DVDs and despite a moderate start they have played very well at times.

"They have players that could cause us problems and we are aware of that; Josh King up front on loan from Manchester United, a couple more in midfield on loan from Old Trafford, and Mayor down the right - we will have to be on our toes.

"They played in midweek in the Carling Cup but I don't think for a minute it will affect them. These days' footballers are so fit that they get over tired legs very quickly at this stage of the season.

"All I ask is that our fans turn up in numbers and help us kickstart the season by making the Lane a real hotbed of support."