Manchester United's Carlos Tevez. - file

london (ap)

The depth of Manchester United's squad will continue to be tested tomorrow when the Red Devils play the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at Derby.

The game is the second of six in just 17 days for a Man United squad that only returned to domestic action on December 26 following a tiring pre-Christmas trip to Japan for the Club World Cup.

With a Premier League match against Chelsea coming up on Sunday, manager Alex Ferguson is set to continue with the mix of first-team regulars and reserves that beat Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup at the weekend.

But United's resources are such that they can still bolster their line-up with striker Carlos Tevez, who missed his team's last two matches because of a trip back to his native Argentina.

"Carlos will be back in training on Monday and he'll be involved on Wednesday," Ferguson said. "It'll be virtually the same squad. I might leave out one or two, but it'll be more or less the same group of players."

That could mean Tevez replaces Dimitar Berbatov or Wayne Rooney to let them rest for Sunday's big game, with Cristiano Ronaldo again left out. Danny Welbeck and Darron Gibson both scored against the Saints on Sunday and could make the line-up alongside the likes of Jonny Evans and Rodrigo Possebon.

League Cup winner twice

United have only lifted the League Cup twice but have won all three of their games without conceding a goal since returning from Japan, suggesting that League Championship strugglers Derby are set for a tough time, despite home advantage.

Derby are without a manager following Paul Jewell's resignation last week and trailed 2-0 and 3-2 at non-league Forest Green Rovers before winning 4-3 in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The second leg is at Old Trafford on January 20, with the overall winners set to meet Tottenham or Burnley in the March 1 final at Wembley. Defending champions Tottenham host Burnley today in the first leg of the other semi-final.

With Darren Bent injured, Roman Pavlyuchenko will start up front for Spurs either alone or alongside Fraizer Campbell. Pavlyuchenko has scored four goals in three League Cup games this season.

Versatile Modric

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric has excelled in support of a lone striker but showed in Friday's 3-1 FA Cup win over Wigan that he can also perform well in central midfield, where he could start against League Championship promotion contenders Burnley.

"I dropped him into midfield and he coped great; it wasn't a problem for him," manager Harry Redknapp said. "I think we can play Luka in there because he's so good on the ball. He keeps the ball and is a great little footballer.

"He's strong enough and certainly good enough. I can't see any reason why he can't play in there for us."

Burnley defender Stephen Jordan is able to play after missing Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup draw at Queens Park Rangers. However, midfielders Chris McCann and Kevin McDonald are both doubtful because of injury, defender Remco van der Schaaf has a kidney complaint, and defender Steven Caldwell is still suspended after being sent off in a league match on December 28.