SIR Alex Ferguson is fearing more punishment from a man he once thought about signing at Old Trafford tonight.

Morten Gamst Pedersen has already scored two goals in a Blackburn Barclays Premiership win at United's ground this season and he netted another in the first leg of Rovers' Carling Cup semi-final, which ended 1-1 a fortnight ago.

Now the Norwegian is setting his sights on a memorable hat-trick by sending Blackburn to the Millennium Stadium on February 26 at the expense of an injury-ravaged United outfit.

And if Pedersen succeeds in his aim, the irony will not be lost on Ferguson, who had positive reports about the 24-year-old when he had him watched a couple of years ago but ultimately opted to look elsewhere.

"Pedersen seems to be making his reputation against us," admitted Ferguson.

"We saw him play and had some good reports on him. We just didn't think he was what we wanted at the time because we had just signed Cristiano Ronaldo, we already had Ryan Giggs and Kieran Richardson was coming through as well."

Rovers have to score to avoid going out on the away-goals rule should the match end goalless at the end of extra time.

Although Blackburn beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford in a Premiership encounter earlier this season, the stakes are now raised with a cup in sight.

Hughes believes his side's task has been made that much more difficult by United's exit from the Champions League, and with the title fading from view as Chelsea run away with it.

"United will view it as an opportunity to get a trophy in the cabinet - which they have hardly done in recent seasons," he said.