Ferguson downplays injury concerns

Sir Alex Ferguson says he is not worried by Manchester United’s injury problems ahead of their clash with champions Manchester City.

Captain Nemanja Vidic and off-season signing Shinji Kagawa remain sidelined while Nani, Anderson and Antonio Valencia are all expected to miss the game on Sunday.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley is also a doubt with a calf problem after hobbling out of the midweek Champions League defeat to CFR Cluj at Old Trafford.

However, Ferguson insisted he still has plenty options ahead of the short trip to Etihad Stadium and says his squad is big enough to deal with the current injury list.

“I know we have some injury problems but we are not short of a squad,” the Scot told MUTV.

“I have plenty of experience to bring in. I rested Darren Fletcher against Cluj on Wednesday and just brought him on for the last 10 minutes.

“Michael Carrick will be back in. I also have Ashley Young, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

“That is what big squads allow you to do. You don’t have every player every week. Our supporters must recognise that.

“Over the years we have had injury situations. Every club gets them. Normally you work on 10 percent of your squad being out every week with some sort of injury.

“That is the situation we are in at the moment but it is not desperate by any means.”