Man Utd injuries put youngster on brink of Premiership

Mancheter United’s defensive injury curse looks set to force Alex Ferguson into handing rookie full-back Phil Bardsley his first Premiership start at Sunderland on Saturday.

Although Old Trafford officials have yet to release details of the precautionary scan Kieran Richardson was forced to undergo on a thigh injury picked up on international duty with England, it seems unlikely the Londoner will be fit for the trip to Wearside.