Vidic sounds battle cry for Chelsea showdown

MANCHESTER United defender Nemanja Vidic has challenged the Reds to gun down Chelsea without star striker Wayne Rooney.

The Reds go into tomorrow’s crunch Premier League clash without their talisman.

But Vidic is convinced United have the firepower to cope with his absence and overcome opponents rated the biggest dangers to his team’s hopes of clinching a fourth successive title.

Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho will also miss the Old Trafford encounter after suffering ankle ligament damage against Portsmouth.

The obvious solution for Ferguson will be to place his trust in Dimitar Berbatov, given Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck are already out for the season.

Ryan Giggs has played up front before while Nani, Antonio Valencia and Park Ji–sung can provide attacking support.

And a defiant Vidic said: "We showed this season we play as a team. It is not just about one man.”

The good news for the Reds - and England - is that the country’s top striker suffered only minor ankle ligament damage in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

Rooney’s scan revealed his presence at the World Cup should not be threatened. But he will be out of action for an extended period.

Ferguson was expected to offer a more extensive medical bulletin today, although a recovery period of between two and four weeks has been mooted.