IT’S GOING TO be an interesting night in Manchester.

Central characters on both sides have added plenty of needle – if some were needed – with provocative statements today.

Alex Ferguson derided City’s habit of “screaming from the rooftops” since coming into the immense wealth of the Abu Dhabi United Group.

The United boss – who last season labeled the Eastlands club ‘noisy neighbours’ – also today insisted City fans were ‘embarrassed’ by the actions of club bosses in recent months.

Meanwhile, young striker Javier Hernandez says he has a personal score to settle with Carlos Tevez after the Argentine forward effectively wrote off Mexico’s World Cup hopes in South Africa, the Telegraph reports.

Tevez, for his part,  will play through the pain barrier tonight. The City captain has been receiving treatment on an injured thigh but is reluctant to have a pain-killing injection and risk further damage, according to the Daily Mail.

His Spanish teammate, the in-form David Silva has warned United that they are in for a game tonight.

But Mario Balotelli will miss the derby through suspension and has had his appeal against a three-match ban rejected, meaning City could be short of attacking options, with Emmanuel Adebayor doubtful with a calf injury.