Vidic misses United trip

Centre-back out of Wolfsburg clash after failing to recover from flu

Last updated: 7th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Vidic misses United trip

Vidic: Ruled out of vital match

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Manchester United's injury-hit defence will be without Nemanja Vidic for Tuesday's match with Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League.

Last season's losing finalists travel to Germany hoping to secure top spot in Group B and, in theory, a more comfortable draw for the knockout stages.

But they will do so without Vidic as the centre-back has not recovered from the illness which ruled him out of Saturday's Premier League mauling of West Ham.

The 28-year-old has not travelled with Sir Alex Ferguson's side to leave his manager with a defensive headache for the game at Volkswagen Arena.

Ferguson's list of injured defenders includes Gary Neville and Wes Brown, who both limped off at Upton Park, plus longer-term casualties Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and Jonny Evans.

With the Da Silva brothers, Fabio and Rafael, also sidelined, the only orthodox defender Ferguson has in his squad is left-back Patrice Evra.

Ferguson has already revealed his intention to play Michael Carrick in central defence, while Darren Fletcher also seems certain to occupy a defensive berth.

Gill chance

Oliver Gill, son of United chief executive David, has been promoted to the squad and could play.

Ferguson, though, insists that having his father at the club will have no influence on his future.

"It doesn't concern me. If he is good enough, he plays," said Ferguson.

"That is the name of the game at Manchester United. I had my own son in the squad for four or five years and he was treated exactly the same as any other member of the squad.

"It will be the same for Oliver."

Ferguson admits United have a tough challenge ahead of them with their defensive problems.

"Wolfsburg will be delighted we have so many injuries," admitted Ferguson.

"I know we might come second in the group but I am not sure whether it really makes much difference.

"AC Milan and Real Madrid are in one group, Bordeaux, Bayern Munich and Juventus are in another, Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and Inter Milan in a third, so if you get one of those it doesn't matter whether you have finished first or second.

"The one issue is that if you finish second you have to play the first leg of

your knock-out round at home, but that is all."

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