Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will assess the fitness of injured trio Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverly and Chris Smalling with the looming clash against Liverpool coming up in less than two weeks' time. The Daily Mirror reports the 69 year-old manager will not gamble on selecting any player who not physically at his best in such an important game.
He told MUTV, "We really want to have Vidic and Cleverley doing some really strong work, and Smalling too, that would bring them on to a level that they could play at Anfield. You can't go there with players who are semi-fit or just coming back from injury. You need players who are fully focused and up to speed in terms of fitness and sharpness."
Stalwart defender Vidic has been out since mid-August because of a calf strain he suffered against West Brom.
Smalling has not played since the club’s 3-1 win over Chelsea on Sept. 18. A groin injury has kept him on the sideline.
Cleverly last played on Sept. 10, because of ligament damage in his foot.
Defending English Premier League champions Manchester United are the early pacesetters in league play. They are level on points with Manchester City, with 19 after seven games.
There is a break in league play on the weekend of Oct. 10-11 because of international games, and the Red Devils resume league play at Liverpool on Oct. 15.
