It could hardly be a more devastating blow; the news that captain Nemanja Vidić will miss two months of the season after undergoing a second operation on his damaged right knee. Vidić missed five months of the previous campaign having suffered a double tear to medial and cruciate ligaments in Manchester United’s match against FC Basel in Switzerland last December.
It is likely to be late December before the giant Serbian defender is fully match-fit once again, with the 30-year-old having looked decidedly rusty in the opening six matches of the campaign. Vidić will miss at least seven Premier League games with the meniscus tear and three Champions League matches.
Vidić’s injury comes at the worst possible time, with Rio Ferdinand visibly hobbling through last Sunday’s victory over Liverpool at Anfield. Meanwhile, Jonny Evans has only recently returned from an ankle operation – an injury that the Irishman admitted earlier this month is still causing pain and stiffness. Adding to a lengthening injury list, Chris Smalling will not return until October after tearing a thigh muscle, while Phil Jones is suffering both with a persistent back problem and a strained right calf.
“Nemanja Vidic has had a meniscus operation on his right knee and will be out for around eight weeks,” read a drab club statement on Tuesday.
“Sir Alex, as a precautionary measure, rested Vidic at the weekend, after he complained of tightness in his knee, however, further medical investigation revealed the underlying problem. The central defender was operated on this week and will be sidelined for about eight weeks.”
Vidić’s operation leaves Sir Alex Ferguson with just two senior central defenders in Ferdinand and Evans: the former struggling through Sunday’s game and Evans short of sharpness. Indeed, it is likely that the Irishman will play against Newcastle United on Wednesday as Ferguson seeks to bring the 24-year-old up to speed. Evans will now play a crucial role in the run up to Christmas – just as the Belfast-born player did following Vidić’s injury at Basel last season.
Yet, whatever the numbers at Ferguson’s disposal, a third defensive injury crisis in as many seasons begs plenty of questions. Not least whether the club’s policy of spending big on attacking players this summer – Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie, Nick Powell, Ángelo Henríquez – was the right one, especially with so many of Ferguson’s defenders having a poor injury record in recent times.
While Ferguson brought Alexander Büttner to the club in support of, or competition for, Patrice Evra, Rafael da Silva is the only other United defender to have not suffered injury this season. That in itself is a bonus, with the Brazilian youngster having developed a well-earned reputation for lengthy spells on the sideline.
Then there is he vexed question of squad planning. One injury crisis is unfortunate and two suspicious; three in as many seasons begins to look like the manager has failed to learn from history. Many have made the same observation about United’s central midfield.
Ferguson’s problems will exacerbate further if Michael Carrick is forced into central defence once again. The 30-year-old struggled during United’s defeat to Everton on the opening day, and then once again for United’s narrow win over Fulham at Old Trafford.
After all, while Carrick and partner Ryan Giggs were thoroughly dominated by Liverpool’s midfield last Sunday, it is not as if Ferguson has a bounty of riches in the engine room from which to extricate Carrick if necessary.
Yet, Vidić’s loss may become a youngsters gain, with Scott Wooten and Michael Keane also now in contention both for the Capital One Cup tie against the Geordies on Wednesday, and United’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford next weekend. Wooten spent much of last season on loan at Peterborough United, while Keane made his competitive début for the club in last season’s Carling Cup.
“I’ve been really impressed with young Michael Keane,” said Evans of the 19-year-old who won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year last season.
“I think his brother has been getting more of the headlines over the last couple of years. Will’s also a fantastic player but obviously he’s got an injury at the minute. I’ve been really impressed with Michael when he’s stepped up into training with us and I can see him getting a bit of a run-out if things go well.”
On a more serious note, however, United’s ability to challenge on all fronts this season will surely be hampered by defensive shortages. The open midfield deployed this season, together with frequent changes in the Reds’ back-four, have led to six goals being shipped already, with far greater challenges ahead.
Unfortunately for Ferguson, while United’s schedule is packed during Vidić’s absence, the Reds also face some testing opponents. In addition to Spurs next weekend, United face Chelsea, Arsenal, and visit Newcastle before November is out. The Derby with Manchester City at Eastlands is scheduled for 8 December.
Whether Vidić ever returns to the form that made him one of Europe’s finest defenders is now surely open to question. Rustiness in the opening matches of the campaign was understandable. So too a permanent dip in performance levels or, more specifically, pace cannot be unrealistic.
Add Ferdinand’s age into the mix and Ferguson may be forced to phase out two of his stalwarts this season; providing the pair’s replacements can keep themselves fit that is. Smalling’s pace and power, Evans progression, and the multi-talented Jones offer much promised. None of it can be fulfilled from the physio’s bench.
MASSIVE BLOW! GUTTED! Get well soon nemanja!
I’m not taking the piss or trying to make a joke here but I honestly think United should recall Reece Brown back from Coventry where he’s been on loan as surely he has more experience than the likes of Michael keane and scotty wootton…
Would honestly hate to see Carrick playing centre back for a big chunk of this season, that’s if either rio or jonny get injured which to be fair is a major possibility. 2 sicknotes the both of them. Have to say that Rio was superb on the weekend. He had. Aquality game! Just stay fit please fella.
Balls. Are we getting our treatment on the National Health or something? How shite is our Physio/rehab programme, it’s getting beyond a joke. Good luck to Nemanja.
At least this may lead to a chance for a youngster I guess, but the timing is awful, if we rush Smallibg or Jones back I can see them getting crocked again too.
pretty sure silvestre isnt currently on anyones books, sign him
I’ve been saying for weeks how lucky we’ve been with Vidic coming back as most players coming back from an injury like his usually get other niggling injuries. So if I can predict this, what were United thinking not getting central defensive cover in?
Valencia wearing a protective boot as well. With Jones/Smalling out there is no cover for Rafael who had to be subbed at the end of the Liverpool game. Could see Buttner there, or on the left wing with Nani (and maybe Kagawa) our only fit winger. Rooney’s return is timely. Allows us to shift Kagawa wide and play him behind RVP.
Even if Rio/Evans manage to stay fit until backup returns, we have the issue of Rio not being able to play two games a week. Either Fergie risks losing Rio to injury or he has to prioritise CL or PL.
Aside from all this, it’s the perfect time to have a league cup game. Gives all our young players a chance to prove they can perform for the first team. This includes Anderson and Cleverley, one of whom will have to replace Carrick when he inevitably moves to CB.
Given the state of our squad and the fact that city are already out, I don’t think we should take the LC too lightly. Could well be our best chance of silverware this year. That said we had an odd habit of going out at the same time (give or take a round) as cIty in the Cups last season.
Marlon – I agree with you than the League Cup provides an opportunity (hopefully) for us to see some of our youngsters in action. Personally I am really looking forward to that. However, I wish I had the same confidence I had with earlier Ferguson teams that good performances in these types of games will be rewarded with more minutes for them in the bigger matches. So long as the old guard is ‘fit’, it seems they will always be picked over the youngsters these days, regardless of performance level. Sentimentality & caution seems to have crept in where objectivity and risk once stood.
Yes but Bebe is fit
Remember, once upon a time, when the only news coming out of OT was good news?
What did I tell you all at the beginning of the season.
Vidic will never be the same. Once you have torn ligament problems and knee operations, your career is downhill.
I coach football, I see this all the time. I blame SAF for not at least bringing in players on loan during the summer transfer window for Vidic and Ferdinand who has recurring injury problems. Because we also had Smalling and Jones out during the summer and as of now they are still injured. Look at Tiger Woods, he will never be number one again because of bad knees. I find the coaching staff at Man.United have no common sense. We should never had to start the season in a professional football league with all the defence out injured when they had ample time to do something about it. This is total BULLSHIT.
It’s OK: we can field 10 attackers and win the league with Charge of the Light Brigade football. Just as long as we don’t lose the ball.
Yes but Bebe is still fit
If Rio and Jonny boy can stay fit, it’s not a disaster. Big if though.
Carrick looks out of his depth at CB. Surely it makes more sense to blood in a young centre back than have a midfielder play out of position? Especially if they are as promising as we hear.
Can Tunniciffe play Centre Back people? The lad is hard as nails and by the looks of it he’s not going to get a look in at centre mid this season…
machedinho – he’s 5’10” and I’ve never seen him play there.
No… when was that?
Apparently Valencia is injured now. Herb, whats wrong with him, when will he be back and who are we signing in Jan?
Prop Vida up in the shop window in December, ship him out in January. Find someone younger who’s not damaged goods.
Herb if you were actually Mike Phelan in disguise it wouldn’t surprise me
Herb if you were actually Mike Phelan it wouldn’t surprise me
Time to bleed the youngters again. In regard to the midfield, would we be so worried if we have Pogba and Morrison on the bench? Oh I know, old wounds are slow to heal. I’m hoping Kagawa sparaks our creativity in the midfield, personally, I think he needs two strikers in front of him. If only Sir Alex would agree.