SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UP:ALEX FERGUSON faces the awkward possibility of going into Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur with eight of his Manchester United defenders unavailable and Darren Fletcher having to help out in the absence of a senior right-back.
While the 4-2 defeat of Derby County at Old Trafford on Tuesday propelled United into the English League Cup final, there was no great sense of jubilation at the club yesterday as Ferguson and his staff met to discuss how to cope with the absence of five defenders through injury and another three back-up players out on loan.
As well as playing Fletcher as an emergency full-back, Ferguson is considering giving a debut to Rafael da Silva’s twin, Fabio, on the opposite flank.
John O’Shea, who has been deputising for the injured left-back Patrice Evra, is expected to move across to partner Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence, while James Chester will be on the bench. Chester, who turns 20 tomorrow, made his debut as a late substitute against Derby.
Ferguson also has concerns about Ryan Giggs and Nani, and Anderson is undergoing tests on his ankle. Owen Hargreaves is out for the season after surgery on both knees and Wayne Rooney will be missing for another fortnight with hamstring trouble, but it is in defence where United suddenly look most vulnerable.
Rio Ferdinand has missed the last 10 games with back trouble, while Wes Brown’s recovery from an ankle injury has taken longer than anticipated and Evra is unlikely to play against this month because of a twisted ankle. Jonny Evans has also damaged ankle ligaments and will be out for at least a week, and Rafael came off against Derby with a hamstring tear that will keep him out for a month.
On a more positive note, Fabio is available for the first time since shoulder surgery early in the season.
Defiant in the face of this injury list, O’Shea said yesterday that as long as United had the chance of winning all four trophies, they would be going for them.
“We are going for all four,” said the defender. “It is something you hope for at the start of the season. There is confidence that these four trophies are all up for grabs. And when you have the players and belief we have, why not? Fingers crossed when the Champions League starts up again we will have a fully fit squad. That is when we will start to dream.”
GuardianService
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)