Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak says he is ready to step into the spotlight if necessary for Manchester United's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Kuszczak played in the weekend's 1-1 draw with Blackburn in the absence of Edwin van der Sar, who missed out with a groin strain.

But while the Dutchman is expected to return for the Camp Nou clash, Kuszczak is waiting in the wings should United's number suffer a recurrence of his injury.

"Edwin was training normally on Monday but he has pains from time to time and you never know what will happen," Kuszczak told Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza.

"However, if he is fit he will play at Camp Nou. If he is not, Sir Alex knows that I am ready for the challenge. I am keen to play against Barcelona.

"To play against Barcelona at Camp Nou with the Champions League final at stake Please, show me a player who does not dream of this. It will be a very entertaining game.

"We have come here to score a goal or a couple of goals against Barcelona to give ourselves a little comfort ahead the second leg next week. Our plan is similar to the one we had for the quarter-final against Roma at Stadio Olimpico.

"It will be great if we can decide the outcome of the tie in the first leg."

He added: "We are close to winning the Champions League and there are only three games left. Now we have a better team than we had last year and we are performing better in the Champions League."

Follow the game LIVE right here on eurosport.yahoo.com from 19:45!

Pawel Dimow / Eurosport