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Manchester United still has problems in defense as it attempts to
close the three-point gap at the top of the Premier League with a
victory at Fulham on Saturday.
Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Gary Neville and Wes Brown are
still out injured, Nemanja Vidic is carrying a calf strain and
United manager Alex Ferguson this week let goalkeeper Edwin van der
Sar visit his native Netherlands to have a second opinion on the
knee injury that has kept him out for four weeks.
Ferguson was hoping to have the veteran back to help his side
in its battle with Chelsea at the top of the standings but does not
know when he will return. United could be level on points with
Chelsea by the time the Blues play at West Ham on Sunday.
"Edwin is going back to Holland," Ferguson said. "It is a
change of scenery for him and the Holland team doctor will have a
look at the injury.
"He has never had an injury like this in his life before so
we think it is a good idea and expect him back in a couple of
days."
Fortunately for United, it does not have another Champions
League match until it meets AC Milan in mid-February and does not
meet any of its top four rivals in the domestic league until it
travels to Arsenal on Jan. 31.
But Saturday's match could still be tricky.
Fulham won last season's corresponding fixture 2-0 on its way
to a best-ever topflight finish of seventh place and is on a high
after reaching the knockout phase of the Europa League this week.
Brown and Neville should be fit to return within the next 10
days but Vidic's chances of playing will only be clear once
Ferguson sees how he reacts to training on Friday. Vidic limped out
of Tuesday's 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Winger Nani is out for another two weeks with an ankle
injury, but Ryan Giggs could be fit to return to midfield Saturday
after signing a one-year contract extension.
Ferdinand and midfielder Owen Hargreaves should return next
month.
"Rio is improving," Ferguson said. "He is much better now and
not too far away, probably two or three weeks.
"And Owen is doing a bit better this week as well. He is
getting there slowly and we hope he will be back by the end of
January."
Chelsea won for the first time in five matches in midweek and
is aiming to heap more trouble on relegation-threatened West Ham
with Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho and Joe Cole all set to return
to its starting lineup.
The Hammers have lost their last three matches and have not
beaten their London rivals since 2003, losing eight of the past
nine meetings. But the east London side is drawing upon the fact it
managed to rally from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with another big side,
Arsenal, already this season.
"Everyone is going to think it is a foregone conclusion and
they are going to win but it is just 11 men against 11 men," West
Ham midfielder Mark Noble said. "If we can go out there and play to
our capabilities and make it hard for Chelsea, then you never know
what the final score could be."
Arsenal probably needs a win against Hull on Saturday to stay
in touch with the leaders but will be without captain Cesc
Fabregas, who scored in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Burnley but then
limped off injured.
"Cesc Fabregas has a minor hamstring problem," Wenger said.
"It could keep him out for eight to 10 days. If all goes well he
will be fit for next Sunday. If not, he could miss one more game."
Midfielder Denilson is fit to play but leftback Gael Clichy
cannot return until next month.
Also Saturday, fourth-place Aston Villa hosts Stoke,
fifth-place Tottenham is at Blackburn, Liverpool is at Portsmouth
and Sunderland is at Manchester City.
Birmingham is at Everton on Sunday, when Wolverhampton hosts
Burnley. Wigan hosts Bolton in Monday's only game.
