Injuries
31 December 2009 0 comments
Mark Mark
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John O’Shea is facing the possibility of another two months on the sidelines according to Alex Ferguson. The United boss has revealed that the Irishman is showing no signs of recovery from the thigh injury he sustained whilst on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in November. O’Shea last appeared in the Premier League in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea back on November 8th. He now looks set to sit out until March according to Ferguson…

“There is no sign at all of recovery for John…It is his first injury at the club and he is a big loss because he is such a versatile player. We just want to get him back but it could be a couple of months yet.”

There is better news from the United camp regarding the fitness of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans. Both Neville and Evans could be in contention for a return for the FA Cup tie with Leeds this weekend, while Ferdinand has resumed training and looks set to be back in the picture later this month…

The United defence has recently been boosted by the return to fitness of both Vidic and Brown, in addition to the Da Silva twins. That’s resulted in greater stability and United recording a clean sheet last night against Wigan, with Ferguson heaping praise on his returning centre-backs.

With the fixture list falling nicely for United throughout January and February, a member of their back four looks a very wise move. Evra and Vidic are secure but expensive options. Tomasz Kuszczak does present a short-term route to United’s defenisve returns while Van der Sar struggles on with his knee injury and is absent on compassionate leave with his wife seriously ill. Wes Brown is also a consideration. He looks to have taken his opportunity alongside Vidic over the past two games and should hold his place, even with Evans returning to fitness. The return of Rio Ferdinand will likely reduce his potential but then, with O’Shea absent, there’s every possibility that Brown could retain a starting role at right-back. Neville and Rafael are set to share that role in the meantime but, longer term, Brown could be in a position claim it.

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