Defenders Wanted At United!

United's injury woes are mounting: Rio Ferdinand limped off the park during today's FA Cup semi-final.

The defender picked up a groin injury and was replaced by Darren Fletcher who played right-back. Ferdinand will have a scan tomorrow to decide whether his injury is serious. We must hope it isn't as a complete defence is out right now: O'Shea, Gary, Silvestre and Vidic are all absent, with Rio joining them we would be depressingly short on numbers and on quality.

'Hopefully it's not a long-term injury,' Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV. 'We have three days' rest now so we'll take advantage of that.'

What would Mourinho say?

'It's incredible how many problems we have to face this season, with all our injuries.' Yeah, something like that. But no, he would moan even worse as these are real problems we have right now.

I wish a reporter had the balls to read out our list of casualties to the Special One; perhaps then he would stop whinging pathetically about their problems that are absolutely commonplace in such a physical league. Having five defenders out injured does not fall into that category...

Fortunately, Sheffield United coming up and against them the emphasis won't be placed on defending I assume. Craig Cathcart, regarded as a bright prospect could make his debut whilst Gary Neville and John O'Shea are set to back for the Boro game at worst. That would ease our concerns a bit but long-term injuries to both Vida and Rio... no, I don't even want to think of that.

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