Anderson blow for United

Alex Ferguson has confirmed midfielder Anderson will be out of action for between four and five weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Brazilian has been plagued by fitness problems this season and was missing when Manchester United flew to Spain for their Europa League last-16 second leg tie with Athletic Bilbao.

United trail 3-2 from the first leg and Ferguson confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will partner Jonny Evans in central defence as Phil Jones (flu) is missing and Chris Smalling is only considered fit enough for the bench after reopening a head wound in the Old Trafford encounter last week.

Provisional squad: Amos, De Gea; Evans, Evra, Fabio, Ferdinand, Rafael, Smalling; Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Park, Pogba, Scholes, Young, Valencia; Berbatov, Hernandez, Rooney, Welbeck.