Manchester United v Real Sociedad: Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic both doubtful after missing training

Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck also absent from session

Gordon Tynan
Tuesday 22 October 2013 06:55 EDT
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Rio Ferdinand (left) and Nemanja Vidic may not recover from knocks in time for Manchester United's match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday
Rio Ferdinand (left) and Nemanja Vidic may not recover from knocks in time for Manchester United's match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday (GETTY IMAGES)

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The centre-back pair Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are both doubts for Manchester United’s Champions League match against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Wednesday after missing training today.

Ferdinand and Vidic did not play in Saturday's game against Southampton with minor knocks, and may not recover in time for kick-off. Cleverley has been sidlined with a calf injury, but it is not yet known why Welbeck missed training.

One positive for manager David Moyes is the session did feature Darren Fletcher taking part with the whole group after several weeks working on his own to regain fitness.

The 29-year-old midfielder has been battling a chronic bowel condition and has made only seven starts in the past two years - his most recent was on Boxing Day last year - but there are hopes that he could return to competitive action later this month.

United should go into Wednesday's match against Sociedad full of confidence as the Basque side have struggled in the Champions League, losing both their opening games, 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and 2-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen.

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