In total, Ferguson was without 14 senior men for Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Wolfsburg, eight of them defenders. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher joined Patrice Evra in an unrecognisable three-man defence and the midfielders seem set to remain in post as Wes Brown's hamstring injury is not responding to treatment.
Because of the lack in defensive cover, Manchester United have been linked with a move for 35 year-old Sol Campbell, who has finally reached an agreement over his registration with Notts County, and has been training himself since leaving the League Two club in September.
However, Campbell would not be able to play until January, by which time Ferguson hopes to have a far cleaner defensive bill of health. Ferguson said: "I expect Vidic to be fit and, if he is available, we would have him and Michael Carrick, plus Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra. I would be happy enough with that."
Ferguson also expects to have Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov available when Aston Villa visit Old Trafford on Saturday. That might mean a quick relegation back to the substitutes' bench for Michael Owen, who marked a rare start by converting his first Champions League hat-trick since 2003.
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