Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United's Michael Carrick keen to avoid emergency defender role
Versatile: Michael Carrick (left) filled in for United in defence last season, but wants to avoid a repeat[LNB]Michael Carrick is keeping his fingers crossed that he is not pressed into service as an emergency defender for Manchester United when they tackle Bolton on Saturday. [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson could be without 11 players for the Barclays Premier League encounter with their fellow FA Cup semi-finalists.[LNB] An already extensive injury list grew even longer during last night's 2-1 Champions League triumph over Marseille at Old Trafford, with two right-backs, John O'Shea and Rafael, limping off with hamstring problems.[LNB] Unless Jonny Evans is able to recover from a calf problem that has kept him out of United's last eight games, Ferguson will have only four fit defenders available, including Brazilian youngster Fabio, who became his side's third right-back even though most of his first-team experience has come on the left flank.[LNB] Crocked: Rafael was carried off on a stretcher against Marseille[LNB] It is a similar position to the one United found themselves in last December, when both Carrick and Darren Fletcher found themselves in defence for a match at Fulham when the Red Devils lost 3-0. [LNB]Hamstrung: O'Shea also limped out of the match[LNB]United face Bolton having lost their last two league games, at Chelsea and Liverpool, and their lead over Arsenal is down to three points having played a game more, so they can hardly afford any more setbacks. [LNB]And Carrick is hoping to avoid more defensive duties in the search for a solution to Ferguson's injury woes.[LNB] 'It did get a mention in the changing room,' Carrick told MUTV. 'I said to Mike Phelan "I don't fancy that again". [LNB]'It is never nice to get the injuries of course. It is disappointing when you pick up a number in a similar position. But I don't think we are that desperate yet and hopefully I won't be called upon.'[LNB] Pea is for perfect! Hernandez the hero as Rooney roars: Bring on BarcelonaMartin Samuel: Now Capello can feed off a slice of the old RooneyManchester United 2 Marseille 1 (agg 2-1): Hernandez at the double as nervy United seal place in last eightAll the latest Manchester United FC news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Darren Fletcher, Mike Phelan, John O'Shea, Michael Carrick Places: Chelsea, Liverpool
