Vidic scan a relief for Reds

April 03, 2008

Nemanja Vidic

NEMANJA Vidic will be out for between two and three weeks with the knee injury he sustained against Roma in Tuesday night.

The Serbian centre-back landed awkwardly in the Champions League quarter-final first leg clash sparking fears of a long-term lay-off, but a scan has revealed the problem is not serious.

A club spokesman told United’s official website www.manutd.com: “There is no major damage to the left knee, and he will be out for two-three weeks.”

Vidic will miss Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Middlesbrough, Wednesday’s Champions League return against Roma and the following weekend’s league clash with Arsenal.

He could return to face Blackburn at Ewood Park on April 19, and will hope to play should United reach the Champions League semi-finals.

How important is Vidic to United? Have your say.

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Alias Smith, over the moon (03/04/2008 at 12:03)

Hallelujah! JOS to partner Rio in the interim please SAF, leave Wesley at right back.

earlpiggot (03/04/2008 at 12:09)

Just because it could have been worse, it doesn't mean that it is good news at all...

Let's hope we get maximum points durings his absence.

JonyB-), North Staffs (03/04/2008 at 12:14)

Excellent- as long as he is fit to shackle the Drogba-Diver and the Barca attack!!

Jimmy the Gent, The garden shed. (03/04/2008 at 12:15)

Fantastic news. His injury was the only blight on a classic [away in Europe] performance.

This guys a beast....looked like it was a personal insult to his honour to come off.....the sort of guy who would play with a broken leg if you let him.

Agree Alias: JOS to partner Rio based on his assured display as sub against Roma...but wonder if SAF will be tempted to give GP a go?

Mick, Dublin (03/04/2008 at 12:16)

Great news. I atually think we could have coped fine without him in every game EXCEPT against Chelsea. Massive relief that we'll have his aerial power to combat Drogba and their unique brand of insanely expensive, route one park football.

Interesting selection dilemma meanwhile. Nev has had 2 full 90-minute run-outs with the reserves. I wonder if he might get 30 minutes against Boro, with a view to playing against Roma in the return leg?

Or will Pique get another chance to shine? Wes has been top-class at full-back in recent weeks. Be a shame to move him inside if we don't need to.

Bill Wirral (03/04/2008 at 12:17)

What a relief. I thought SAF's interview after the game when he was so down beat after a brilliant win spoke volumes and I feared the worst. Glad I was wrong about that. After a master class in soccer against Villa followed by the beating of Roma bring it all on I say. Okay we will miss Vida no question of that but with Pique, JOS, and Wes to chose from it's not looking too bad. This time last year it was a heck of a lot worse.

wazza10 (03/04/2008 at 12:20)

Thats bad news for all our rivals and good news to all fellow Reds.Quick recovery Vida get well soon

Nazgul, India (03/04/2008 at 12:21)

I hope he will be ready for the all important clash at the bridge and also for the CL semis..He has been immense for us this season..sad to loose him for the most vital part of our season

zunaid ally (03/04/2008 at 12:36)

Vida has been a rock for United for the past two seasons, and we did look jittery without him in Rome.He is vital if we are to conquer Europe this season, as well as retain the Premier League.It is a huge relief that he will only be missing for a fortnight.

Southern Red (03/04/2008 at 12:42)

The sturdy Rio/Vidic partnership has been key for us this year and Rio gets nervy whenever his favourite Serb is away. Thank goodness it may only be 3 or 4 games as we need him to keep Drogba under control.

My first choice would be to move Wes alongside Rio rather than introduce Mikael or Pique. Plenty of cover on the right with Nev completing another game this week . We should be OK for two to three weeks but it’s always risky when a top performer gets injured.

Gillian England (03/04/2008 at 12:46)

Vital to the defence !!!

shola-shoneils, Finland (03/04/2008 at 13:04)

wow, great news. I had thought he would be out for the entire season but thank God.
Get well soon Vida n i sure do hope we can cope with that, in the interim.
I'll miss dis lad. Great chance for Pique.

AS, Ipswich (03/04/2008 at 13:10)

Totally agree with earlpiggot. Time to call our captain back into the team and move Wes at centre back as i dont trust Pique nor Oshea to do the job.Lets rest Evra and play Sylvestre at left back as we have to make sure we dont concede against Boro as i am sure we ll score.

Roy (03/04/2008 at 13:32)

Surprising that people think O'Shea is the best, least disruptive replacement for Vidic. Is it better to use the best centre back replacement - Brown - even if it means losing him at right back? Since when is OShea the best 3rd central defender? Besides his first full season as an excellent attacking fullback, what is O'Shea's best position. Does he know? Does SAF?

Not that Pique is a sure fit but he is a central defender. If Pique doesn't play now, when will he? Utd dont need him as a midfielder in future so if he doesn't get his chance now, he will want off in the summer - why should he wait?

Demo, Glossop (03/04/2008 at 13:48)

its good that he will only be away a few weeks but its still missing games. roma match aint over yet, and i would have liked him against adebayor as well but def vital for CL semis and chavski

Gerry, Glastonbury (03/04/2008 at 13:49)

AS Ipswich - totally agree about Wes at CB and not JO.
Why would an hour suddenly qualify him as an immediate stand in for Vidic. Wes is a proven CB with good pace and is also very good in the air. JO is no more than OK at CB, but is a capable stand in at RB.
Sorry chaps but it's Wes for me without a shadow of doubt.
Let's use all of his abilities I say, before he clears off for the loot!

Southern Red (03/04/2008 at 14:15)

Steady on Roy 13:32. Pique has only just turned 21 - a good five years younger than Vidic, Evra, JO’S etc. Defenders need cool heads and calm minds; both are helped by a few years of experience and maturity.

sallycinnamonisared, middlesbrough (03/04/2008 at 14:50)

Roy, you have got it bang on mate, I expected Pique in Rome and was surprised, there again I never expected (and did'nt want) Park in Rome. I think it tells us that Pique will be gone in the summer, Sir Alex did'nt make the call based on experience (he's just done a year in la liga) but on ability. JOS is not the answer at CB even for 2 weeks but neither is GP, this was my worst nightmare thank the lord it's only 2-3 weeks. With all of that said I'll leave it to the man that know's best, amen.

F.Thys, Belgium (03/04/2008 at 14:52)

After the schoolboy mistake Pique made earlier this year
(I think against Bolton away)that cost us some points, there is no doubt in my mind Sir Alex will not use him as a centre-back alongside Rio in the run in.

stevi, france (03/04/2008 at 14:56)

I wouldn't start unsettling the defence and start moving people all over the place Wes has done well where he is so lets leave him there.

O'shea did well when he replace vidic against Roma so I think it should be either him or Pique.

Red-Brit-in-It (03/04/2008 at 17:18)

Why take Piqué from Barcellona and then not use him after years of bringing him on. Either he's up to United standards or let him go. Why are Juventus interested in him and according to some sources Barcellona if he's no good? I really think Wes is better at right back and JOS to use an oldie mouldy left back..in the changing rooms. So we need centre back quality from somewhere - is it Piqué?

Lord Ruud (03/04/2008 at 17:18)

Pique should be the natural choice but as mentioned his mistake against Bolton will still be in Fergie's mind and he didn't cover himself in glory against Coventry (but then again who did?).

I expect Fergie to play Brown or Silvestre centrally in the meantime as they both have much more experience (if not the best level of concentration).

The Boro game is the most important of the three upcoming games, as it is away, so we need a solid defender in there, and I'm not convinced O'Shea despite his size is strong enough for it.

Happy Valley Barry, San Francisco, California (03/04/2008 at 17:30)

Vidic is a beast back there
and a wonderful complimentary
player to the elegent and
articulate Rio. We will miss
Nemanja every game he's out.
I think John O'Shea and Pique
have done enough to give us
support back there, these lads deserve the right to
play in that key position.
Either way, United are a
wonder to watch these days,
even my buddies that hate us
the most have mentioned how
good we are, when the enemy
have such good things to say
you know SAF and Carlos are
on the right track (no matter
how ugly we win in the CL).
Up the Reds

Sparky, Salford (03/04/2008 at 18:06)

Surely it's obvious. Keep JOS at CB and leave Wes to do what Wes has done all year at RB. Why make 2 changes when 1 is enough. Keep it simple. Could be a pivotal weekend. I think Chelsea might struggle at City and let's hope the Scousers can do us a favour. Delight Vida will be back in 2-3 weeks

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (03/04/2008 at 18:11)

Oafshea is a disgrace. Pique is a million times better centre half than the Oaf. Pique is class. OK, he's not the quickest, but neither is Vida if the truth be known. However the best replacement is Brown. Wes is NOT a right back, he is putrid going forward as he has no natural attacking instinct. But as a centre half he is top class. Wes is better than Oafshea and Pique put together. The key is the condition of Gary Neville. If he's almost back to his best, it's a no brainer: Neville, Brown, Rio, Evra. If Neville is not ready, then its: Brown, Pique, Rio, Evra. And please, please, 2 upfront!!!

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