It is with a sense of déjà vu that Paul Scholes will board a flight to Italy this morning for the second leg of a Champions League semi-final. In April 1999, with Manchester United chasing the treble, Scholes travelled to Turin only to pick up a needless booking for dissent in United’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Juventus that would rule him out of a Champions League final that his team won in no less thrilling fashion against Bayern Munich.

Eight years on, and with United again pursuing the treble, Scholes will walk another disciplinary tightrope, this time against AC Milan, knowing that a yellow card will prevent him from appearing on the greatest stage the European game has to offer should the club preserve their slender 3-2 first-leg lead at the San Siro tomorrow.

The same situation applies to Gabriel Heinze and, most troublingly for Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, Cristiano Ronaldo, but surely their fears of missing the final in Athens on May 23 should United get there, must pale in comparison with those of Scholes, who is confronted with the prospect of missing a second final.

Apparently not, although Scholes has always been the most level-headed and unsentimental of footballers. “I won’t let the bookings situation bother me,” the United and former England midfield player said. “It is just another game and another chance to get to a Champions League final. I don’t think of it being more important to get through because of what happened to me last time. It still feels the same as the semi-final was in 1999. We all want to get there and we all want to win it if we do.”

The scenario is made all the more intriguing for the fact that the man who will referee the game tomorrow, Frank de Bleeckere, was the official to whom Scholes was alleged to have made a homophobic remark during United’s 1-0 victory against Benfica in the group stage in Lisbon in September.

Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner, accused Scholes of making the remark, but the Belgian referee, who booked the player for a tackle on Petit, of Benfica, said that he heard nothing and no action was taken by Uefa, football’s European governing body.

While Scholes may appear unconcerned, Ferguson obviously is, however, and chose to remind the player of his responsibility to try and avoid the kind of rash tackles with which he has become synonymous.

“Paul has to make sure he doesn’t get booked,” the United manager said. “That’s without question. You can’t allow a player to go into the semi-final of the European Cup and say to him ‘don’t tackle’.

“If he stays on his feet and tackles properly, he won’t have a problem. If he keeps his calm about the game he will be all right, I’m sure of it.” Of more pressing concern to Ferguson, though, is the injury crisis that, up until now at least, United have done a remarkable job of overcoming, as they showed by coming from two goals down to win 4-2 against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday and move five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, the defenders, both underwent scans yesterday, although it seems likely that only the former will have a chance of starting.

With Gary Neville also injured and Patrice Evra suspended, Ferguson may have to deploy Darren Fletcher at right back, with Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Heinze filling the other defensive positions.

Louis Saha, who has made just one substitute’s appearance in the past eight weeks for United, should take up a place on the bench. Gennaro Gattuso and Paolo Maldini are expected to be declared fit by Milan.

Scholes believes that it will be another evening of twists and turns. “We never seem to do things the easy way, so there is probably more excitement to come,” he said.