United's young guns are fired up and ready to answer the Reds’ defensive SOS. With just 90 minutes on the Premier League clock, the treatment room at their Carrington training HQ is beginning to fill up, with the back four taking the early hit.

Rio Ferdinand looks set to be out until the home game against Norwich City on October 1.

The England defender suffered a hamstring injury at West Brom on Sunday and will miss at least five Premier League matches, including heavyweight home clashes against Arsenal and Chelsea.

He will also be absent for the first Champions League group match next month.

Skipper Nemanja Vidic’s initial prognosis on a nerve injury in his left leg was not serious and the Reds are hopeful the Serb will only be out for a fortnight at the most.

Patrice Evra was in the treatment room before the campaign kicked off having suffered a knee injury in the Community Shield against City.

The left-back, however, is targeting a return against Spurs at Old Trafford next Monday night.

Brazilian right-back Rafael had surgery yesterday on the dislocated shoulder he injured in training last week and won’t be available again until late October.

It all adds up to a reshuffle that will create early-season chances for a trio of United’s young defenders. Chris Smalling stood in as a makeshift right-back at the Hawthorns for Rafael, while Jonny Evans and summer signing Phil Jones both came on against Albion to replace Ferdinand and Vidic.

But 20-year-old Londoner Smalling insists the trio can easily fill the void left by the big-name absentees.

“It is unfortunate that we have lost such big players like Rio and Nemanja,” Smalling told M.E.N. Sport. “They have been the main backbone for United over a number of years and are a big part of the reason why the club have won so much.

Faith

“It is important whoever steps in does the business. The manager kept faith with a number of young players from the Community Shield so it is great he has got faith in us all.

“It is unfortunate when somebody has to drop out but I suppose a door has opened.

“Somebody has to step up to the plate. I will be the same as the others wanting to step into that centre back role and do the job.

“I want to do a job as well as the likes of Rio have done for so many years.

“When I was at Fulham I used to admire Jonny Evans as one of the top young centre backs and he is carrying on his pre-season form and doing well.

“It was great that United was able to sign Phil Jones because a lot of clubs were after him. It is great to work together. I hope and think we can work together, grow and develop together.

“I think we can be a big part of the future of this club. We have an opportunity now and it is up to us to take it. There are always players hungry and ready to step in. I found it easy to settle in at Old Trafford last season because other players around you make it that way.

“I think Phil is finding that too. He has had a pre-season with us and he is enjoying it. I think he will kick on and settle in nice and easily because he is such a good player.”

United boss Fergie sold defensive and midfield versatility when allowing long-serving John O’Shea and Wes Brown to leave for Sunderland this summer.

Brown was a right-back and centre-half, while O’Shea could play all across the back four and also filled in midfield.

Now Smalling, Jones and Evans are having to prove their versatility.

“Me and Phil have switched between right-back and centre-back during pre-season and Jonny has played left-back. I think the manager has been testing us to make sure we can fill different positions,” added Smalling.

“If people are injured, it is down to us to take those opportunities wherever they fall.

“I only played at right-back once for Fulham reserves a while back. It is a hard shift running up and down that right wing but it is all about a learning curve.

Pushing

“You need experience in different positions and, hopefully, it will make me a better player. I don’t think you can afford to be a one-position man in the United squad.

“There are so many players who can play in different positions. If you can play in one or two roles then by then end of the season you are likely to have clocked up quite a few games.

“If I can get a game that is the main thing but I see myself as a centre-back first and foremost. I will be really pushing for that job because that is the main one I want.

“If the manager feels I can do a job at right-back from time to time, I am happy to do that, but centre-back is my main position. I will strive for that.

“I really enjoyed last year. I just want to play more games and I feel if I get a good run of games together then my form will carry on.

“I am not worried about second season syndrome.”

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