United struck by injuries ahead of CSKA tie

Sir Alex Ferguson is contending with a real selection dilemma in defence ahead of Tuesday's game against CSKA Moscow with both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic ruled out of the game that could secure the club's place in the knockout stages.

• Rooney likely to miss out after birth of son

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Sir Alex Ferguson has won the Champions League twice.

Both central defenders are nursing ankle problems and join Park Ji-sung and Ryan Giggs on the sidelines. Dimitar Berbatov is a doubt and Wayne Rooney may also miss out as his wife Coleen gave birth to the couple's first baby, Kai Wayne Rooney, on Monday afternoon.

The positive news for United is that Darren Fletcher will return to the starting line-up as Sir Alex Ferguson's side aim to record a fourth consecutive win in Group B and guarantee their progression to the round of 16.

"Darren was a substitute on Saturday and will play on Tuesday," revealed Sir Alex Ferguson at his pre-match press conference. "I think most people recognise Fletcher as a big game player. We've been aware of that for quite a while.

"Now there's an acceptance among most people that he's a very important player for us. He has been missed in some key games recently so it will be good to have him back."

Wes Brown and Jonny Evans are likely to come into defence and Ferguson will be hoping that one or both of his regular starters recover in time for Sunday's Premier League encounter with league leaders Chelsea.