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Saha out, Vidic doubt

LOUIS Saha's injury nightmare continues with the striker ruled out of Manchester United's Champions League trip to Dynamo Kiev - while Nemanja Vidic remains a doubt.

The injury-plagued French international was hoping to make the trip to the Ukraine despite missing the 4-1 win at Aston Villa with a long-term knee problem.

But he was not United's travelling party which headed out to the Ukraine, raising fresh doubts over his long-term fitness.

England duo Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves were also missing but Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic, who sat out the Villa Park win, was in the squad, even though Sir Alex Ferguson remains unconvinced the former Spartak Moscow player will be available after suffering concussion during the Premier League win over Wigan.

Ferguson said: "Vidic is a doubt for Tuesday. He trained on Friday but he is still feeling some reaction to the knock he got against Wigan.

"In that situation you can't take a chance. I'm hopeful he will be ready. We will see how he is. He will be close but I'm not so sure he will be ready to play in Kiev."

If Vidic is ruled out then Wes Brown is likely to partner Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the United back four.

Ferguson reported no fresh injury concerns from Saturday's win.


Ferdinand hails strike duo

Rio Ferdinand believes Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez have proved they can play together.

The Manchester United strikers were outstanding in the 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa on Saturday.

Both men scored in the 4-0 romp against Wigan in their last United game, with the young England striker adding a brace against Villa to make it six goals in his last five games.

Ferdinand said: "Wayne is in the groove and he is one of those who gets goals in spurts. He is one of those who goes on a mad goal spree.

"Wayne is definitely capable of getting 20 odd goals this season. He did it last season and I'd put money on him to do it this season if I was a betting man.

"Top players always bounce back from setbacks. We had a setback in midweek with England and, as a top player, Wayne came back strongly for us."

Ferdinand added: "Carlos gets in the holes between the midfield and the defence of opponents and, if he can keep doing that and slipping the ball through to Wayne, they will continue to be a formidable pairing.

"It is fantastic for us to have Wayne and Carlos. The myth about the two of them not being able to play together ... was finally put to bed against Villa."

Rooney believed Manchester United performed well at Villa after taking time to get going.

"We knew the other results before we played and we knew we had to get the three points. We didn't have the best of starts. Their two forwards harassed our defence and did really well.

"But we got going and Carlos (Tevez) is a great player. I can play as the one going in behind or looking for the ball in behind and Carlos can do the same so we can switch quite easily."