Gregory Coupet is looking forward to the challenge of facing Manchester United on Tuesday night in the Champions League at Old Trafford after a season disrupted by injury.

The France goalkeeper only returned to the Lyon side in January after a five-month abscence with a knee-ligament problem.

Coupet, 35, will play a vital role against a free-scoring United side with the match locked at 1-1 after the first leg.

He said: "I feel great in myself. I still have to work on the knee but I am not feeling any pain.

"When you are out for such a long time it helps you put things in perspective, not just in football but outside the game."

Coupet is hoping Lyon can rise to the occasion and reach the quarter-finals.

"We are not favourites but know we have a team that is capable of scoring and that gives us confidence," he said.

"We have developed as a club and come a long way. Playing against a team like Manchester United at a fantastic stadium could bring out the best in us.

"Our morale is good. We will need to show a lot of fight and effort if we are to get the result we want."

Coach Alain Perrin believes star striker Karim Benzema will have a vital role to play.

The league leaders know a big performance from the 20-year-old could go a long way to overcoming United.

Benzema opened the scoring in the first leg with a superb strike when he got away from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic before Carlos Tevez grabbed a late equaliser.

The young France international is not in a good frame of mind apparently as Perrin prefers him to play out wide occasionally and not up front.

However, the coach stressed before training at Old Trafford: "Benzema is one of the key players who could make a difference for us.

"It could come down to his quality as an individual, his skill and technique.

"He can create a chance and score and is dangerous in different areas."

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