Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may shake-up his defence for their derby at Manchester City.

The Manchester Evening News says Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans have been the foundation on which United have surged to the top of the Premier League since Christmas. But the duo disintegrated against Everton with keeper David de Gea and full-backs Rafael and Patrice Evra sharing in some calamitous defending.

It means Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are in the running to play at the Etihad, where they both started in United's FA Cup third round win in January.