There was a mixture of good and bad news for Manchester United on the injury front today concerning the club’s two first choice centre-backs.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed to reporters that captain Nemanja Vidic who hobbled of during the side’s 2-1 victory over West Brom last Sunday, faces up to five weeks on the sidelines as his calf problem is worse than previously feared.

Whilst that’s a blow to the team, the good news is that Rio Ferdinand who also limped off with a hamstring sprain during the game at the Hawthorns could be back sooner than expected. 

It was feared the former England captain would be out for six weeks but he could be back to full fitness for United’s home clash with Arsenal on August 28, which is the Sunday after next.

With Vidic and Ferdinand absent, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans will start at the heart of United’s defence against Spurs, who have not won at Old Trafford since December 1989 when a certain Gary Lineker scored their winner.

It will be a big occasion for them and an unexpected one so early in the season for them to show why Sir Alex believes the pair along with Chris Smalling are going to be permanent members of United’s defence for the long-term future.

The trio will both need to work hard alongside the returning Patrice Evra to make sure the under-pressure David De Gea has as little as possible to do in front of goal and that he doesn’t come under any unneeded pressure early on againgst a Spurs side who will be out to cause problems in their opening league game of the season.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87