Mixed news on injury front

United fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Sir Alex revealed that Anderson is expected to miss just three weeks of football after injuring his ankle against Derby County.

Fans feared the worst after the 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder was stretchered from the pitch at the final whistle on Tuesday.

"We sent Anderson for a scan and there’s no break," Sir Alex said at Friday morning's press conference. "But there was some ligament damage. We think he’ll be out for three weeks."

While that prognosis might bring a smile to United supporters' faces, the boss did have other, less pleasing, news to report, with nine players absent for the FA Cup fourth tie against Tottenham Hotspurs' at OT on Saturday.

He said: "The ones who are out [for the Spurs game] are Rio Ferdinand, Anderson, Nani, Rafael, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and Ji-sung Park [hamstring injury].

"Nani suffered a groin injury and he’ll be out for a week. Jonny Evans [ankle] will be out for three weeks."

Sir Alex did rule out the possibility of bringing in any players on loan as cover. Instead United will rely on the remaining fit first-team regulars and a number of young players.

"We still have Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo fit. But we will have to call on some young players," he added.

"The injuries are mainly to the defenders - I've got a whole back four out for Saturday. I could play Darren Fletcher at right back, with Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and John O’Shea, which would give me an experienced back four. But I’ve called in Richard Eckersley and Fabio, who could be involved."

The good news is that most of United's injury concerns are not long-term. Rooney and Evra aren't far off comebacks from hamstring and ankle problems, while Ferdinand (back) and Brown (ankle) could be fit to face Everton on Monday 2 February. (If either United or Everton require an FA Cup fourth round replay, the game will be brought forward to Saturday 31 Jan).

"Rio and Wes could be back for the Everton game, if the match is on Monday," the boss said.

The injuries have prompted more calls for a winter break from the United camp, as a busy winter schedule takes its toll. "It’s not the best position to be in. January is a difficult month. We’ve talked a lot about having a winter break to get rid of the strains you pick up in January. But it’s not to be. The result is that the strains become injuries and the players miss matches."

Resource: manutd.com