Defensive headache for Fergie

17 August 2009 08:00
Sir Alex Ferguson's defensive problems refuse to go away, with Manchester United down to the bare bones in that department. Just one game into the 2009/10 campaign and the reigning Premier League champions have already seen their resources stretched to breaking point. The Red Devils have endured countless injuries to key members of their back four in recent times, and this season is proving to be no different. Rio Ferdinand is the biggest miss for United at present, with the England international set to undergo a scan in order to determine the full extent of a his thigh strain. He is by no means the only one carrying a slight knock at present, though, and Ferguson will be forced to shuffle his pack once again when United go to Burnley on Wednesday. "Ferdinand will be out for two weeks - the next two or three games I would think," the Scot said following the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over Birmingham on Sunday. "(Nemanja) Vidic is training so, hopefully, we'll have him back for next Saturday at Wigan. "Jonny Evans is injured again, Gary Neville has just resumed training and Rafa da Silva is still out with a dislocated shoulder. "We've had a hard time with defensive injuries over the last two years but have good replacements who have experience."

Source: SKY_Sports