Alex Ferguson had only 10 senior outfield players available at the start of Manchester United's final training session ahead of tomorrow's Champions League semi-final first leg against AC Milan.

With Rio Ferdinand ruled out for a fortnight after aggravating his groin injury against Middlesbrough at the weekend, Ferguson is already condemned to fielding a makeshift defence against the six-times winners at Old Trafford.

And his hopes of having Patrice Evra available are now in doubt after the Frenchman was part of a small group, including Kieran Richardson, Louis Saha and Nemanja Vidic, who trained separately from the main group of senior players.

If Evra does not make it, Darren Fletcher seems certain to fill the right-back role against the Serie A giants, with John O'Shea partnering Wes Brown in central defence, as he did in the second-half against Boro.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not train, although the Norwegian is expected to be available.

However, unless one of Ferguson's stars makes an unexpected recovery, United's bench will be packed with youngsters, including Dong Fangzhou and Chris Eagles, neither of whom have made a competitive appearance for the Red Devils this term.