Nemanja Vidic could be out for the rest of the season after breaking his collarbone against Blackburn on Saturday and with Mikael Silvestre also absent until the summer after his dislocated shoulder, things are suddenly looking thin in the defence.
Vidic will miss at least seven games and may be available for the final three matches of the Premiership campaign against City, Chelsea and West Ham, but that could be optimistic.
The 25-year-old's agony comes on the back of captain Gary Neville's ankle ligament damage, which he suffered against Bolton just over a fortnight ago.
Neville's comeback target is the FA Cup semi-final against Watford a week on Saturday, or the league match at home to Sheffield United the following Tuesday.
The treble blow means Sir Alex has to shape a new-look back-line for the Champions League double-header with Roma, the first leg of which is at the Olympic Stadium.
Deputising
Wes Brown has been deputising for Neville at right-back but shifted to his normal central defensive slot for an hour against Blackburn to cover the loss of Vidic.
In turn John O'Shea came on as a sub and went to right-back. That could be the line-up Fergie uses in Rome on Wednesday, and to see him through April.
Alternatively, Brown could stay in Neville's berth with Gabriel Heinze moving across to partner Rio Ferdinand and either O'Shea or fit-again Patrice Evra occupying the left-back role.
Fergie has called up youth team defender Craig Cathcart to the squad for the Champions League trip as cover. He will skipper United's youngsters tonight at Old Trafford as they seek to beat Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup semi-final, then will report at the airport 12 hours later for the flight to Italy.
Meanwhile Roma skipper Francesco Totti has blasted Fergie after the Reds boss left him out when asked to name Roma's most dangerous players.
He said: "I am not worried about what Ferguson thinks of me as he will see for himself. I hope I will make him remember my name.
"I don't like English football and I don't like England either because of the weather."
What do you think? Have your say.
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Demo, Glossop (02/04/2007 at 10:15)
well we will see totti if you are a danger
george (02/04/2007 at 10:26)
SAF said the subs bench could prove vital as the season heads towards a conclusion.Every player who steps into the team will have to respond to the situation and they will.Team spirit is good and negatives are out of fashion at OT.
RCH, Salford (02/04/2007 at 10:35)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (02/04/2007 at 10:49)
Mick, Dublin (02/04/2007 at 11:44)
Apparently he's so famous in Italy that Italians make "Totti jokes" in the same way that English people make "Irishman jokes" in England.
Which means, of course, that he's not thick at all, just misunderstood, ok? ;)
Mick, Dublin (02/04/2007 at 12:04)
Gerry, Glastonbury (02/04/2007 at 12:05)
Normally I would pick Evra but Roma will be difficult game so I will plump for Heinze as he's the better defender of the two and has a nasty streak to him as well. Fergie could pick Evra for his athletism & mobility though. This one will be an interesting choice?
O'Shea's best position is right back in my opinion so that is where he should play and again I don't think United will miss Gary too much if O'Shea is at his best.
The only other consideration is who plays up front? Will Saha play?
If he plays Evra and Saha our attacking options are enough to scare Roma to death!
Alias Smith, over the moon (02/04/2007 at 12:10)
saha rocks, work (02/04/2007 at 12:15)
Demo, Glossop (02/04/2007 at 12:21)
the guy is so intelligent there is a whole book of jokes about him, but fair play to him he has taken part in publishing it and putting profits to charity! still doesnt mean hes gonna be good on wednesday tho
Justin The Great, manchester (02/04/2007 at 12:56)
keen bgood (02/04/2007 at 13:25)
Birdy, Ireland (02/04/2007 at 13:30)
Kevin, Tralee, Eire (02/04/2007 at 13:41)
Alias Smith, over the moon (02/04/2007 at 13:54)
shanny, Hyde, Cheshire (02/04/2007 at 14:03)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (02/04/2007 at 14:04)
Steve Chew, usa (02/04/2007 at 14:45)
Jimmy the gent, south coast (02/04/2007 at 14:54)
Rick (02/04/2007 at 15:17)
The first site - and so far the only one - I opened (www.shouldersolutions.com) says the following:
" ...teenagers will need 6 to 8 weeks before the broken clavicle completely heals, and adults may take up to four months."
Damn.
Whaley Bridge Cynic (02/04/2007 at 15:35)
Brave men fought Hitler so that their Man United supporting Grandchildren could utter total paranoid nonsense and still be tolerated by the rest of the Country.
Up the Wolves
saha rocks, work (02/04/2007 at 15:53)
Mick, Dublin (02/04/2007 at 15:54)
A fractured clavicle can fully heal in 4 to 6 weeks. But this does depend on lots of different factors and chances are Vida's out for the season.
He'll almost definitely be back for pre-season though.
george (02/04/2007 at 16:27)
Rick (02/04/2007 at 17:00)
My point was this: In five weeks we go to the Bridge and those guys's tactics will be to bombard us with high balls at every opportunity - be it free-kicks, corners or whatever, - with Ballack, Drogba et al rushing like madmen to be at the end of them.
Against Vida, they'd be bouncing off him - and that'd include Terry.
Not sure if Brown fills me with the same amount of confidence.
At least he's better there than at right-back!