HATCHET MAN: Rio's rock solid but Manchester United need more like him at the back

Rio Ferdinand's injury has underlined the fact that Manchester United lack strength in depth at the back. The mere idea of the England defender (right) being out for some time was enough to make many at Old Trafford very nervous. They know that without him or Nemanja Vidic they are vulnerable and recent  wobbles proved it. Jonny Evans has potential and John O'Shea is extremely adaptable but they are both a long way short of the quality of the players they would be replacing. Gary Neville is long past filling in at the heart of the defence and Wes Brown, when he is fit, has never been thoroughly convincing. United have enough quality midfielders and forwards for them to have their own  five-a-side league at the club's Carrington training ground but they only have two top-class central defenders and it is a problem Sir Alex Ferguson needs to solve.   Ferdinand ready to face Arsenal as skipper eases United injury fears  More from Hatchet Man. HATCHET MAN: Stoke and Wolves can do better than Everton misfit Van der Meyde01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Obi set for new Chelsea contract but he's still nowhere near the real deal01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Big boys Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool are wrong to believe in Santa01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Forget heroic defending - limited Chelsea were just running scared against Barcelona30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Does Moyes need a washed-up Liverpool legend/Newcastle failure at Goodison Park? He must be g-Owen mad.30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Great for police overtime but a final nail in the SPL's coffin - the Premier League must hold firm in snubbing Rangers and Celtic30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Not even English, too old and discarded by Spain - why Almunia should never be allowed to wear the Three Lions30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: We only really have two games to save ourselves - Toon striker Owen surrenders six points29/04/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  

Source: Daily_Mail