Fergie running out of defensive options

MANCHESTER United go into tonight’s Capital One Cup home clash with Newcastle in the midst of another major defensive crisis.

Captain Nemanja Vidic has been consigned to the sidelines for another eight weeks.

After complaining of tightness in his knee ahead of Sunday's win over Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson pulled the Serbian out of the 2–1 win as a precaution. Investigations revealed Vidic needed more surgery on ruptured cruciate ligaments first corrected last December.

With Phil Jones and Chris Smalling also out, Ferguson is down to his last two fit senior central defenders, Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand.

Ferguson looks like putting inexperienced duo Michael Keane and Scott Wooton in line to play.

Nineteen–year–old Keane has made one substitute appearance while Wooton, who went on the summer tour to South Africa and China, is yet to make his debut. England Under–18 international Tyler Blackett could also be involved.