FERGUSON OUT OF TOWN FOR DERBY MATCH

The United boss claims that his son organised the ceremony for November 18 because, in the original fixture list for this season, it had been put down as an international date.

However, with international friendly matches being played midweek, the first competitive all-Manchester derby for four years will now go ahead, meaning that Ferguson will now be in a different time zone for the match.

"My son went for that date only for the fixtures to be changed," explained Ferguson. "It couldn't have been any worse for me."

The dilemma means that, as he did against Watford in the Worthington Cup last month, Ferguson's assistant, Steve McClaren, will now take the reigns for the Manchester showdown.

"The wedding is in Cape Town, so there is nothing I can do," added the United boss. "Steve McClaren will be in charge."

Welsh winger Ryan Giggs is battling to be fit for the game, after picking up a hamstring injury in the game against Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League in midweek. The 26-year-old has rubbished reports that he was due to be out for two weeks with the injury.

"I came off against Kiev as a precautionary measure," explained Giggs. "I felt an initial twinge early on, but when I went in for a tackle I felt the hamstring tighten.

"The injury I sustained was to my right hamstring, the past problems have been with my left. Having consulted a specialist, the injury is nowhere near as bas as firsth thought.

"I hope to be back training early this week and I haven't written off playing against Manchester City."

However, with Wes Brown, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roy Keane all picking up knocks in the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, and several of his players involved in international matches this week, McClaren may see the injury list grow even further ahead of the City game.