Monday Jan 09 2006 14:24
Nemanja Vidic is set to make his
Manchester United debut in the FA Cup third round replay against Burton Albion, while Patrice Evra could face
Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup this week.
Serbian international Vidic completed his £7million transfer to Old trafford last week, while Monaco's French left-back Evra is tying up the formalities of a deal worth in the region of £5million on Monday.
Despite 24-year-old Vidic joining the earlier of the two, he is set to have to wait longer to make his United bow given that he is not played competitively with former club Spartak Moscow since the end of November when the Russian season came to an end.
Therefore he is not deemed fit enough to play in Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Blackburn or the Manchester derby at Eastlands.
However, with a week of intense training behind him, Sir Alex Ferguson feels he should be ready to line up against Nigel Clough's Conference side on January 18 following Sunday's shock 0-0 draw at the Pirelli Stadium.
Meanwhile, Evra is set to be pitched straight into the side against Blackburn as he has only had a two-week break from playing in Monaco's first team.
On Vidic, Ferguson said: "We will see how he comes through the physical work this week but it is possible the replay would be perfect for him.
"Patrice has only had a two-week break from matches and he has been training all the time. He is different from Nemanja in that respect, so he could well be involved against Blackburn."
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