Veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will be available
to face Bolton Wanderers this weekend, according to Sir Alex
Ferguson, who will use young shot-stopper Ben Amos as cover.
Van der Sar injured his knee against Chelsea last
week, while deputies Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak are both
currently injured, prompting suggestions that Reserves goalkeeper
Amos would make his Premier League debut on Saturday.
However, Sir Alex confirmed Edwin's recovery at his pre-match press
conference. “Everyone is OK from last Sunday’s games against
Chelsea and Tuesday’s match against Middlesbrough,” he said. “Apart
from Rodrigo Possebon, of course."
It is astonishing that 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder Possebon
escaped Emanuel Pogatetz's tackle without a broken leg or even
ligament damage to his knee.
“We’re delighted that Rodrigo’s injury is not more serious," added
Sir Alex. "There wasn’t even ligament damage. It’s amazing,
really. At the time I feared the worst. You saw the reaction from
Nani when it happened, he turned away in horror. It was the same
reaction when Eduardo got injured, or even David Busst for
Coventry.
“We had to keep Rodrigo in hospital because of the risk
of infection in the wound. It cut him to the bone. He’ll have to
go back in to get it closed up. But we’re quite happy with
it.”
The manager will use Amos on the bench as goalkeeping cover for van
der Sar on Saturday against Bolton as a groin injury has sidelined
Tomasz Kuszczak until next weekend’s trip to Blackburn. Michael
Carrick, meanwhile, will return to training after
October's international break.
“I won’t risk Tomasz before the Blackburn game," added the
boss. "But young Ben Amos came in and did well [against
Middlesbrough], he looked comfortable and had the right
temperament. So we’re OK in that position. Michael [Carrick] is
nowhere near football training yet. I think by the end of the
international break he should be back training with us."
