United have a formidable fixture list ahead of them in the next
fortnight; tomorrow they face an Aston Villa side high on
confidence after beating Arsenal at the Emirates, and they follow
up that encounter with a tough trip to El Madrigal to face
Villarreal in the Champions League midweek.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side then face Manchester City in the derby a
week on Sunday, a team that completed the 'double' in league
competition over the Red Devils last season.
The reigning European champions will have to plot the outcome of
those testing tasks without the services of their £30.75 million
record signing Dimitar Berbatov.
The 27-year-old limped off during Bulgaria's 6-1 hammering at the
hands of Serbia on Wednesday, and his club manager has confirmed
that he has strained a hamstring.
Ferguson told the press: "It is a slight strain rather than a tear,
so that is positive news."
Further to United's injury concerns, defender Wes Brown will be
absent for a month or more after exploratory surgery on an ankle
knock.
Ferguson however, is confident that the gap at right back can be
bridged.
He continued: "I would have thought Wes will be out for between
four and five weeks, which is disappointing.
"Fortunately we have plenty of cover at right-back, with Gary
Neville, Rafael Da Silva and John O'Shea available to come
in."
The Scot was not optimistic about Rio Ferdinand's chances of
featuring at Villa Park tomorrow. He confirmed that the 30-year-old
was still suffering the effects of a back-knock that kept him out
of England's win over Germany in midweek.
