• Champions League

Rio does not travel for United Euro clash, Vidic in

ESPN staff
October 17, 2011
Rio Ferdinand played the full 90 minutes for Manchester United during the 1-1 draw at Liverpool © Getty Images
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Rio Ferdinand was not among Manchester United's travelling party as the squad prepared to fly out for their Champions League clash with Otelul Galati.

United are looking for their first win of the campaign following draws with Benfica and Basel in the group stages, and they travel to Romania without their main centre back. It is not the first time the England international has been left out of the Red Devils' European plans, after Sir Alex Ferguson also rested him in Portugal.

Ferdinand played every minute of United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the weekend, but the decision has been taken to preserve him ahead of their forthcoming Premier League showdown with Manchester City.

There is an able deputy flying out to Romania, with Nemanja Vidic set for a return to action following a recent spell on the sidelines. The Serbia international has been suffering with a calf injury, but he proved his fitness during a recent international outing and may well start on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Dimitar Berbatov finds himself in the squad after missing out on a place in the matchday 18 at Liverpool, while Phil Jones is also fit to play. Tom Cleverley and Rafael remain absent.

Manchester United squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Young, Valencia, Berbatov, Diouf, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney, Welbeck.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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