However, Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful the England defender will be available for the Champions League return with Porto next Wednesday.
Jonny Evans (groin) could play against his former club, although John O’Shea will fill the central defensive slot if the Northern Ireland star misses out.
Ferguson is hoping that Rafael Da Silva and Wes Brown will also be back within a fortnight.
“Rafael started training this week,” said Ferguson.
“He needs a few more days training but I would imagine he could be available for next weekend.
“Wes is not too far away either and will start football training next week.”
Ferguson also backed his side to overcome their recent blip.
“If you don’t have character, you get yourself into situations where you might find yourself wanting>
“Fortunately there is a good competitive nature at this club.
“The fact we have been winning for the last few seasons gives them an in-born character to try and get out of the situation they found themselves in last Sunday.
“They are comfortable in these areas. It is not an accident they keep getting out of them. It has happened too many times.”
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without captain Dean Whitehead for the game.
Whitehead is rated at only 50-50 to make the game as he battles against a calf injury, although fellow midfielder Teemu Tainio could return after five matches out with a knee problem.
Defender Calum Davenport, who was ineligible for last weekend’s trip to West Ham under the terms of his loan deal, returns to contention, but Sbragia is likely to be without full-back George McCartney (calf) and striker David Healy (groin).
Sunderland (from): Fulop, Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Ben-Haim, Collins, Nosworthy, Davenport, McShane, Edwards, Malbranque, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Richardson, Reid, Tainio, Murphy, Jones, Cisse.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O’Shea, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Eckersley, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck, Macheda.
Sunderland league form: LDLLL
United league form: WWLLW
Key opponent: Kenwyne Jones - striker is tough to handle
Prediction: Sunderland 0 United 1 - The Reds are crying out for a clean sheet at the moment and if they get one they should win
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
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2 - 0 to man u
hopefully they get the result !!
They certainly need it
line-up will probably be:
VDS
Neville O'Shea Vidic Evra
Fletcher Carrick Giggs Ronaldo
Rooney Tevez
SUBS: Foster, Eckersley, Fabio, Park, Scholes, Nani, Macheda
Yet again this is a must win situation. We must forget about the 2nd leg Porto game completely. The Team that SAF selects must be fully focused on Sunderland only. Just looked again at the squad available to us due to our appalling injury situation, and I am not filled with great confidence. I have ALWAYS put my trust in SAF and so I will not desert him now, but please SAF, do NOT start with more than ONE of our 'Old Boys' - please!!!!
I think Giggs, Carrick & Fletcher will all be held back for the Porto Midfield. Scholes & Gibson will play CM @ Sunderland and should be good enough. Nani will be given another chance and it wouldn't surprise me if Macheda got a start or certainly got another run.
I'd prefer to see Giggs rested for this match so he will have fresh legs against Porto...his experience may prove to be crucial in that match. Best case scenario we could get a few goals early and put this to rest so we can sub a few of the first teamers. I know Nani hasn't shown any consistency this season but this could be an opportunity for him to get some confidence. I'd like to see:
VDS
Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra
Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani
Tevez, Rooney
Bench: Giggs, Foster, Park, Kiko, Eckersley, O'Pie, Scholes
Play the old players against Sunderland. Play Giggs and Scholes and the Red Nev. Save Nani and Anderson (if fit) for Porto.
What has becme of Fabio?
I saw Duncan Edwards play, Walton Le Dale
You are right in the old days managers played their strongest teams.Fergie does not have a clue without a decent number two.
Fabio should start at tright back Tosic and Ronaldo should be on the wings with Tevez Macheda and Rooney up front.
Love the comments about Sir Alex not having a clue and requires a good number 2. Name one of his assistant managers who've become successful managers?
I'd say he does have a good idea what he is doing and takes calculated risks that sometimes back fire on him. As yet I've not seen the perfect manager, but Sir Alex is as good as they get, right up there with the best of the best.
As for the Sunderland game, hope Nev doesn't play in the centre and Rooney plays.
honestly why cant we play Fabio?, evra looks out of pace, and maybe could do with a rest even though i find it very difficult to understand why he does as he was injured and suspended for the turn of the year. but even so, i think fabio will do a better job for us than o'shea and neville esp going forward and as there will be a lot of that. yes and as DANNY, WIMSLOW. i will play Tosic and nani on the wings, play gibson and fletcher in the middle, then tevez, rooney up front, should we score two before 60th minute, we can play welbeck and macheda up front, for half an hour and between them 2 there should be another goal or two. and im confident....right now i will be worried about the porto game if i was sir alex. but i do hope we dont go all shambles like we've being doing lately tomorrow. GOD HELP US!!!
Whatever happened to Tosic?
I don't want to see Scholes play either tommorow or at Porto. He is out of form and is not even passing the ball well anymore. His place in the side becomes limited if he isn't passing well, because he doesn't tackle or score. What has happened to Possebon? Fergie had high hopes for him and he made substitue appearences against Newcastle and Pompey at the start of the season. I would have liked to see him alongside Carrick to give us some freshness. Nani another player who has been out of form all season and doesn't even give us much option. Giggs migt have to play even if it would be better to save him for Porto, it might be best he plays. Hopefully Rio will play against Porto, so we can use Evans tommorow, even if that means he can't play on Wednesday. We could do with Berbatov back but Fergie is likely to save him for Porto. Also what happened to Zoran Tosic? He has just dissapeared after some sub apeareances. We could do with some extra midfielders so why is he left out, especially as he can't be worse than Nani anyway.
So much depends on who is fit, but basically play a traditional 442 against Sunderland including Nev, Scholes and Giggs.
Play something different in Portugal; try 4231, with the Scottish Lad and Carrick in front of the back four. Ahead of them use Tevez (on the left because he will track back to cover Evra), Rooney, and Ronaldo on the right. Up front would be the perfect opportunity for Kiko. This formation would give us more length to cover the long Porto passing but retain the ability to mount quick counter-attacks. Let’s face it; if we play like we did last week, I fear we will blow it.
Good news on Wes, we have missed him over the last three weeks.
As previous post forget Porto this is the important game, as I think champions league has gone this season.
Team
VDS
O'Shea Vidic Evans/Neville Evra
Ronaldo Fletcher Carrick PArk
Rooney Tevez
Foster Gibson Nani Eckersley Giggs Scholes MAcheda
As every one has said " we need to kick on now" still waiting so hopefully this game.
forget nev. fabio should play along with evans, evra, vidic. Midfield- Anderson if fit, fletcher, nani & ronaldo. Park and Michelle should be on the bench after there pathetic, abject displays on tuesday. Utterly useless! Up front should be 2 from rooney, tevez and macheda
As long as Carrick doesn't play. Get rid of the lazy sod !
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS PLAY W/ CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN WIN. I WIL CONTINUE TO BACK FERGIE NO MATTER WHAT HE PUTS OUT. SO BACK THE LADS AND CHEER THEM TO VICTORY!!!!!
Listening to Fergie on Setanta last night he sounded like a man who has lost the plot,he actually said it was goodto have players fit like Neville.The best thing for United would be if he was not fit again!
Fergie has probably been the greatest manager both sides of the boarder but now he is really showing his age,his selections are poor.
I acn,t just except stupidity and recently he has made big errors.
Redarmy11
Andersons out with the injury he picked up on International duty, so the midfield will have to be Scholes, Fletch,Carrick, Gibson, pick any 2!!
Personally I think so far this year Fletch has been very consistent in the middle of the park so should be in there, and as a partner I would pick Giggs. Scholes and carrick both looked woefully off the pace on Tuesday. It will be a big shame to lose Scholes but I think his career is coming to an end as good displays are now an exception rather than the rule!! Carrick for me still palys OK for a couple of games then goes missing, so we need a steadfast central midfielder who can produce consistently like Keane, Robson etc... I think at the moment we are missing a midfield general of there like, someone that takes control and shouts commands at them, we are lacking a natural leader in the centre, Rooney shows the effort required as does Tevez, but they are both 2 far forward to take the lead, and I think Rio is 2 far back, we need someone in the middle to take charge!!!
Thinking about it, I reckon we should opt for youth at the momment as what they lack in experience they will make up for in effort!! Team for me:
Foster
Eckersley Oshea, Vidic, Fabio (Not sure if he is fit)
Ronaldo, Fletch, Gibson, Tosic
Rooney (if fit, otherwise Macheda),Tevez
SUBS: Giggs, Nev,VDS,Scholes,Carrick,Nani
Go on Utd!!
Mick not such a bad selection however why would you want to start wth the donkey?
We will Hargreaves back next season hope he can stay fit,Rio seems to be spending a lot of time out injured.
Fabio is fit but Fergie prefers Neville which is a disgrace.
FOSTER
ECKERSLEY O'SHEA FERDINAND EVRA
RONALDO FLETCHER CARRICK NANI
ROONEY MACHEDA
He will probably play same team as Tuesday. Sunderland to win 2-1. Jones scoring both goals because Nev will be marking him.
Hopefully utd will finally realise that we are champions and rediscover some form, I dont think we have played well many times this season but we have found ourselves in a great position so let's not blow it, also Fergie should have a rant about other teams putting in some effort against pool, fulham,blackburn and villa never showed up against them yet all ran there socks off against us
We need to rent a coach for the rest of the season or all is lost. Maybe we could get Queiros to do what Hiddink is doing, two jobs at once.