Key defenders could make United return

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic could be back to bolster Manchester United’s flagging Premier League title challenge against West Ham tomorrow.

Alex Ferguson has not had his first-choice central defensive partnership available since October but with Ferdinand now clear of suspension and Vidic over the nerve problem that has prevented him making an appearance in 2010, both are expected to start against the Hammers.

With the Carling Cup final just five days away, Ferguson might have been tempted to rest Wayne Rooney but that hardly seems likely in the wake of Saturday’s defeat at Everton that left the Red Devils four points adrift of Chelsea. Nani is still suspended.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Brown, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Park, Anderson, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf.