[TAREK®]

The Reds will hope to have Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic available for Sunday’s visit to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham Hotspur, but United may have to wait on the return of Edwin van der Sar.

The 40-year-old Dutch goalkeeper has been suffering with a virus and has missed the last three games, while Vidic sat out Sunday’s FA Cup tie after picking up a knock in training, and Rooney was left out having aggravated an ankle injury sustained at West Bromwich Albion on New Year’s Day.

“We thought Wayne would make the game,” Sir Alex explained. “But he came in to the training ground on Saturday and he’d felt it again. We therefore decided there was no point risking him. Vidic got a knock in training but should be all right for Sunday. Edwin may be out for another week or so.”

Tomasz Kuszczak has stepped in to replace van der Sar, while Sir Alex has Anders Lindegaard eligible for selection and he made the bench on Sunday. The United boss is also pleased with the latest outings for young defenders Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling. Evans was outstanding against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round win, while Smalling excelled in the league victory over Stoke City a few days earlier.

While Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic remain United’s first-choice pairing at centre-half, Sir Alex is encouraged that going into the business end of the season he has two able deputies with bright futures at Old Trafford.

“Jonny was excellent against Liverpool,” said Sir Alex. “I was pleased with him. He tired a little before the end, that’s why we brought Chris on. But it’s been a great week in the sense that Chris played against Stoke and I was able to play Jonny on Sunday. They both need games and these two boys are excellent players.”