Ferguson backs O'Shea and Richardson as cover in crisis
A nightmare 10 days on the injury front was capped yesterday when Gary Neville broke down in training, just 48 hours before his intended comeback against Blackburn.
The full-back was immediately booked in for a groin operation that will keep him out for at least six weeks, a period that includes United's crucial Premiership clash with Chelsea on November 6 as well as England's World Cup double-header in October against Austria and Poland.
With Roy Keane sidelined for two months with a broken foot and Gabriel Heinze out for virtually the rest of the season with knee-ligament damage, Ferguson has been robbed of three of his major players.
Wes Brown and Quinton Fortune are still missing as well, leaving the United boss with no option other than to trust O'Shea and Richardson's abilities as full-backs.
Ferguson, who also estimates that injury-prone striker Louis Saha will be back in full training within the next month, is confident they will cope even though he admits it is not an ideal situation, one he wonders, for all their riches, how Chelsea would handle.
"Losing Gary is a blow but these are the kind of situations which can arise at any time," the United boss said.
"We are going through a spell of injuries at the moment but over the years we have handled this type of thing quite well.
"If that was to happen to Chelsea, and they lost people like John Terry and Frank Lampard, it could make a difference to them because up to now, they have not really had any injuries."
Richardson will be making only his second Premiership start for United at left-back. Given he had never played at full-back until the start of pre-season, the young England international has adapted well, turning in an excellent performance at Liverpool last weekend.
"Kieran never made a mistake last week," Ferguson said. "His temperament and attitude were fantastic. He has matured so much over the last 12 months.
"This will be a different examination for him but I am confident he will be fine and I know John O'Shea can cope on the other side because he has done so well for us there in the past.
"I just hope we don't get any more injuries because, while Phil Bardsley and Gerard Pique have been training with the first-team squad all season, they are the only defensive cover I have."
Keane's absence forces Ferguson into at least one change from the side which drew at Anfield with Darren Fletcher set for a recall.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
