Injuries no excuse for failure, says Ferguson

ALEX FERGUSON insists a chronic injury list cannot be used as an excuse for failure at Manchester United. The Red Devils limp into their Premiership showdown with much-improved Tottenham minus six key men.

Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Gabriel Heinze, Louis Saha and Wes Brown are all missing, plus Ryan Giggs, whose fractured cheekbone is set to rule the Wales skipper out for at least six weeks. With his squad already short on numbers due to the sale of Phil Neville, plus a decision to loan a few of his youngsters out, Ferguson is forced to select from only 13 senior players, two of whom are goalkeepers.

It gives the United boss just one selection dilemma - whether he plays two or three men in central midfield - and ensures his bench will be crammed full of youngsters, who would normally look at Wednesday’s Carling Cup encounter with Barnet for some first-team experience.