No role for Ferdinand as Man Utd face Birmingham

Rio Ferdinand was the shock absentee for Manchester United this afternoon as the Premier League champions began their quest for a fourth successive title against Birmingham.

Ferdinand returned from Holland with a back injury but is believed to have sustained a calf problem in training which ruled him out, leaving John O’Shea to skipper the Red Devils and partner Jonny Evans in central defence.

Nani was given the first opportunity to fill the hole left by fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, while Antonio Valencia made his debut, as did England keeper Joe Hart, who has joined Birmingham on loan from Manchester City.

Man Utd: Foster, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, Gibson, De Laet.

Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Ferguson, Carsley, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome.

Subs: Maik Taylor, O’Connor, Phillips, Benitez, McSheffrey, Parnaby, O’Shea.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)