Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful that Manchester United can make it to the next international break without any more injuries, as their defensive crisis worsened with Nemanja Vidic undergoing knee surgery. The Independent reports.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are already out of action, although Smalling could return to training within a couple of weeks.

Johnny Evans and Rio Ferdinand are United’s two fit remaining centre-backs, but Scott Wooton looks set to be in tomorrow’s squad to face Tottenham after impressing Sir Alex in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup win over Newcastle.

After facing Tottenham tomorrow, the Reds travel to Romania to play CFR Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday before travelling to Newcastle next Sunday.

"Everyone knows the situation with our defenders," said Ferguson.

"We just hope if we can get through the next two league games it will give us a little breather and we can start to get one or two of them back."

But there is better news upfront for United, with Wayne Rooney fully recovered from a gashed thigh and Tom Cleverley finally adding goals to his game by breaking his duck against Newcastle.

"I have always scored goals when I have gone on loan, so it was bugging me that I had not been doing it for my club or my country”, said Cleverley.

"I have got the first one out of the way now. Hopefully they will all come at once."