Nemanja Vidic out untill Christmas

Usually Sir Alex Ferguson is coy on his team news during press conferences. At his weekly appointment with the media before tomorrows visit of Arsenal, he chose not to divulge the news that his Captain and number one center back is out until at least Christmas, and instead chose to tell the clubs TV channel MUTV.

Here is his short quote.

"I think we're talking around December for Vidic, maybe around Christmas time."

Notice the word "maybe"..... It really is not looking good for Nemanja at the moment. After recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for a large part of last season, he then suffered another injury that required another bout of surgery in the early knockings of this season. To make things worse, our defence have looked lost at times this season, with Jonny Evans not looking the solid, confident defender that emerged last season in Vidic's absence. It certainly is time for the Northern Irishman to step up, or for Chris Smalling to get himself match fit. The promising English defender has recovered from injury, but is yet too make a first team appearence this season. Phil Jones is also nearing a return in the next month, but it is unlikely he will deployed as a center back primarily. Instead, he will probably figure more at right back, and maybe in the midfield.

Manchester United have no new injury concerns ahead the game against Arsenal tomorrow.The subject of the Mark Clattenburg racial allegations did come up in the press conference however. Here is what Fergie had to say on that.

"I don't believe he would make comments like that,"I refuse to believe it. It's unthinkable. I've never had a player come to me in the last 15 years and say a referee swore in a game - ever. The way we see the game today rather than how it was 25 years ago, it has completely changed. I played myself and I know that the banter which went on between referees and players 25 years ago is different to today."

Source: BBC Sport

I myself am in the same boat, however I do think that both the FA and Police need to investigate the claim thoroughly. It will be very hard to prove however, unless one of the officials that had the head sets on comes forward and validates the claim.