Barthez joins Ferdinand on United injury list

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and Rio Ferdinand will both miss Manchester United's Champions League qualifier with Zalaegerszeg in Budapest.

Ferdinand suffered an ankle injury in the defeat of Boca Juniors at Old Trafford on Saturday and while the damage is not as bad as it was initially feared, it will probably also keep him out of the Premiership opener with West Brom.

Barthez has been struggling with a hip problem picked up on United’s pre-season tour to Amsterdam and is also a doubt to face the Baggies.

Young Irish international John O’Shea is the likely replacement for Ferdinand, while Roy Carroll should carry on as stand-in for Barthez.

Other than that United are at full-strength, with skipper Roy Keane among the party which left Manchester Airport this morning.

The controversial Irishman was met by a barrage of flashlights as he reached the departure gate having found out he faces Football Association sanctions over his comments about his infamous tackle on Alf Inge Haaland two years ago.

Keane remained tight-lipped over his comments, while manager Alex Ferguson also refused to discuss the matter.

The United manager was more willing to talk about the test posed by the Hungarians, who are making their European debut.

"It is a round we didn’t really want to be playing in, but we are here now and we have to be focused," said Ferguson.

"We have seen them a couple of times on tape, but the most important thing is we play to our potential.

"You can play sides of any standard, but if you don’t play well they’re all capable of beating you."