Manchester United are ready to welcome Rafael da Silva back into the fold at Blackpool tomorrow with Ryan Giggs hailing the youngster's new-found maturity.

Although the Brazilian full-back was forced to apologise for his behaviour after being sent off at Tottenham Hotspur last week, an £8,000 fine suggested the Football Association did not view his exchange with referee Mike Dean to be the most heinous of crimes.

The punishment cleared Rafael to face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tomorrow and prove once again the class Giggs sees on a regular basis.

"Rafael has come on in leaps and bounds over the last few months," said the veteran Welshman. "I have seen a massive improvement, not only in the way he plays but within him as a person.

"I come up against him in a lot of training sessions because we play in opposite positions and I have seen the maturity develop over the last three or four months. If he keeps developing he is going to be a brilliant player."

United's first top-flight trip to Bloomfield Road in 40 years has taken on even greater significance given the state of the Premier League table. Two points ahead of Arsenal and three in front of Manchester City, a third away win of the season would ease United into a clear lead at the top and turn the screw on their title rivals.