SOCCER:Manchester United's injury crisis goes from bad to worse as duo Anderson and Jonny Evans have been ruled out for three weeks with ankle injuries but manager Alex Ferguson refuses to into the transfer market.
Midfielder Anderson and defender Evans were both injured during the Carling Cup semi-final, second leg win against Derby on Tuesday.
Anderson was carried off on a stretcher after the final whistle while Evans limped through the latter stages of United’s 4-2 win at Old Trafford.
It means United will be without an entire back four tomorrow when they tackle Tottenham in the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
The problem could be accentuated if Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs fail to recover from minor knocks, leaving the Red Devils without a dozen regular members of their first-team squad.
Most are short-term injuries, with Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand among those tipped to be fit in time to face Everton on February 2nd.
Ferguson has already dismissed the idea of bringing in reinforcements, even on loan, to ease United through their troubles.
“No, I won’t be doing that,” confirmed the Scot.
Instead, he will rely on youngsters such as Adam Eckersley and Fabio, twin brother of right-back Rafael, one of the men injured, plus central defender James Chester to plug any gaps, with Darren Fletcher tipped to fill the right-back berth tomorrow.
“I do have options,” said Ferguson.
“Hopefully Neville will be okay, then I can play Fletcher at right-back, so with Nemanja Vidic and John O’Shea we would have an experienced back four.
“Alternatively, if we thought Eckersley or Fabio could be one of the full-backs Fletcher can play in midfield.”
As Tottenham are similarly affected, from a much smaller pool of players, it might not have too much impact on the outcome tomorrow.
However, with West Brom to face on Tuesday, then Everton next Monday - unless either United or the Toffeemen require an FA Cup replay in which case the game will be moved back to January 31st - it is a worrying repeat of two years ago.
Then Ferguson’s squad was ravaged by injuries, which the United boss feels cost them any chance of Champions League glory as they were dumped out by AC Milan in the semi-final.
“At the moment we have got a lot of injuries that will affect us for the next three matches,” said Ferguson.
“However, if we get over the Everton game, hopefully we will be okay.”
“We are not the best position because there are a lot of games in January. At this time of year players often carry little strains, which eventually become injuries that force them to miss games.
“That is why managers for years have pursued the hope they will have a winter break. Unfortunately, it is not to be.”
