It may be down to Sir Alex and his players to get the job against Manchester City on Wednesday night, but there can be no underestimating the part the fans can play in helping the Reds reach Wembley.

United currently trail Roberto Mancini's side 2-1 despite dominating the Carling Cup semi-final first leg for long periods. With a place at Wembley up for grabs, as well as local pride, the Old Trafford faithful are being urged to get right behind the lads.

"I know for sure that our crowd will rise to the occasion," insists Sir Alex in his United Review programme notes. "I don't think I even have to ask the fans to turn up the volume. It will just happen."

"The best thing the fans can do is make a big impact on the atmosphere which will raise the performance levels of the players," says Reds' legend Bryan Robson in his column."Playing in a Manchester derby is a great feeling and I found that I was completely aware of the impact it had on the fans.

"You don’t want to send your supporters in to work the next morning getting stick from the City fans they work with. There’s local pride at stake and you don’t want to be on the losing side."

Paddy Crerand echoed those sentiments in United Review, adding: "No fan should underestimate the part they can play on an occasion like this.

"City will have a big following, but there’ll be enough Reds to give the players a real lift.

Manchester United have agreed a deal to loan their Serbia winger Zoran Tosic to the Bundesliga side Cologne until the end of the season.

Tosic, 22, who signed for United in January 2009, has made five appearances in all competitions at Old Trafford, and had also been a target for Dutch side Twente and for Sporting Lisbon.

"I am glad my coming here," Tosic told the Serbian newspaper Blic. "I believe I haven't had my final say at Manchester United and that my performances with Cologne will be my ticket back to Old Trafford."

Tosic's agent Zoran Pavlovic told the paper United had rejected the prospect of a permanent move.

"There were some offers to buy out Tosic's contract," said Pavlovic, "but Manchester United were unwilling to go for that option. Boss Ferguson is obviously counting on him in the future and so Tosic has been sent out on loan."

With just under a week to go until the January transfer window closes Premier League managers appear poised to finally utilise what limited funds they have available to them.

Manchester United have allegedly joined the race to sign Fulham's promising young defender Chris Smalling. The £7 million-rated centre back is also attracting the attention of United's Premier League rivals Arsenal, but it is believed Sir Alex Ferguson leads the chase having today had a bid accepted.

Meanwhile, it has been speculated that United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who has failed to meet expectations so far this season, could be heading out of Old Trafford.

United's rivals, Manchester City, have also again been linked with potential signings and it is believed that manager Roberto Mancini is set to continue his attempts to lure Argentinean midfielder Fernando Gago from Real Madrid.

A £12 million offer has already been turned down, but the Citizens are widely expected to return with an improved bid of around £14 million.

Elsewhere, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce appears intent on improving his defensive options and is believed to be preparing a £10 million move for Portsmouth's French defender Younes Kaboul.

Despite Pompey's precarious Premier League position, Kaboul has been in impressive form throughout the current campaign and has also been linked with a return to former club Tottenham Hotspur, who may require defensive reinforcements of their own following the news that Jonathan Woodgate may fail to play again this season.

In contrast, it has been speculated that Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Alladyce is intent on enhancing his alternatives at the other end of the pitch. The former Bolton boss is believed to be instigating a loan move for Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, as well as a deal to bring Turkish attacking midfielder Yildiray Basturk to Ewood Park.

Everton have allegedly turned their intentions to Leeds talisman Jermaine Beckford having supposedly given up on the prospect of signing AC Milan striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar, who was again strongly linked with Arsenal in today's press.