Vidic set for United return

Nemanja Vidic is in line to return to the Manchester United defence for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League showdown with Everton.

The centre-half has started just seven games for United this term, and has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a calf injury.

But manager Alex Ferguson discussed Vidic’s fitness with Serbia coach Raddy Antic last night and the 28-year-old was given the green light to play 70 minutes in this afternoon’s World Cup warm-up against South Korea at Craven Cottage.

Vidic’s return will provide Ferguson with a huge boost as defensive partner Rio Ferdinand is still missing with a back problem, while the Red Devils have slipped five points behind leaders Chelsea.

Vidic enjoyed a relative stroll as Serbia ran out comfortable winners against the Koreans, with giant Valencia forward Nikola Zigic’s sixth-minute strike securing a 1-0 win.

United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, who has been out since October with a knee injury, captained South Korea and also lasted 70 minutes.