Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was coy last night when discussing his plans for his injury-hit back four ahead of their clash with Inter Milan.

Nemanja Vidic is banned for one game, his normal stand-in Jonny Evans was also a bystander having aggravated an ankle injury during Saturday's win over Blackburn, while Rafael da Silva did not even make the journey after suffering a similar knock against Sam Allardyce's men.

In addition, Wes Brown and Gary Neville are longer-term absentees, leaving Ferguson desperately hoping John O'Shea shrugs off the heel injury that kept him out at the weekend or Evans makes a miraculous recovery knowing unless they both make it, either Fabio Da Silva or Darren Fletcher will be required to fill the right-back berth.

"My options? I panic!" said Ferguson, only half-jokingly when asked what he would do if both failed to make it.

"I suppose I could play Dimitar Berbatov as a sweeper."