Just when United’s defensive casualties were beginning to clear, Nemanja Vidic has put himself back on the sidelines after declaring himself unfit to start in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Leeds.

Vidic was on the teamsheet but reportedly came off the pitch with a problem following the pre-match warm-up. The Serb has just returned from a recent calf injury but, from the reaction of Alex Ferguson, it appears that the defender’s latest complaint was a mystery…

“I couldn’t tell you what the situation is with Nemanja…I couldn’t tell you at all.”

United’s assistant boss, Mike Phelan, was just as vague with his appraisal of the situation…

“Nemanja did the warm-up and said he felt something wasn’t right with his body.”

United’s official site carries the story today, with Ferguson reiterating that he isn’t looking to bring in a defender during the transfer window. However, there’s little or no detail on the Vidic situation and with rumours surrounding the future of Vidic after interest from Spain, speculation will mount that relations between player and manager are taut.

In terms of team selection, on Sunday we saw Wes Brown was recalled at the last minute to partner the returning Jonny Evans at centre back. That pairing will presumably be lined up for the tough trip to Birmingham this weekend, should Vidic’s latest complaint keep him out. That would be a major frustration for Ferguson who only recently has sung the praises of Vidic and Brown and credited having two settled centre-backs as the reason behind the two consecutive clean sheets against Hull and Wigan.