United will travel to Sunderland this weekend without Rio Ferdinand and Johnny Evans in their back four.

Ferguson has confirmed that Ferdinand will remain sidelined with a groin injury, while Evans suffered a knock in last night’s Champions League draw with Porto and has been written off by the United boss – “Jonny should be okay in a week but he is a 21-year-old lad and this is what happens when you play two big games in three days,” revealed Ferguson today.

This is all good news for Sunderland, who will surely fancy themselves to break their recent goal drought against a United defence who have conceded in their last four games and are now ravaged by injuries. Ferguson will now likely turn to O’Shea to partner Vidic in the centre, with Neville keeping his place at right-back.