Ferguson Facing Defensive `Nightmare` For Inter

If O'Shea and Evans do not recover in time, there are no obvious choices for a partner for Rio Ferdinand in central defence.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has included injured defenders John O'Shea and Jonny Evans in his squad for Tuesday's Champions League away clash with Inter Milan.

The European champions are without suspended Nemanja Vidic for the last-16 first-leg game, while fellow defenders Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Rafael have been ruled out through injury.

Evans limped off in the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday with an ankle problem while O'Shea is struggling to shake off a heel injury, meaning Ferguson took only four fit defenders with him to Italy on Monday in a 22-man squad.

"We're having a nightmare with defenders this season -- Gary, Wes and John O'Shea missed the game (against Blackburn) and now Evans with his ankle," local media quoted Ferguson as saying.

"I hope we can get two centre-backs out there. At this moment, it's very doubtful."

If O'Shea and Evans do not recover in time, there are no obvious choices for a partner for Rio Ferdinand in central defence against Jose Mourinho's Serie A leaders.

United said on their website (www.manutd.co.uk) that the other defenders travelling to Milan were Patrice Evra and youngsters Fabio da Silva and Richard Eckersley, who are all full-backs and the latter pair have barely featured for the first team.