Some early morning entertainment....

Manchester United's injury-hit defence will be without Nemanja Vidic for Tuesday's match with Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League.

Last season's losing finalists travel to Germany hoping to secure top spot in Group B and, in theory, a more comfortable draw for the knockout stages.

But they will do so without Vidic as the centre-back has not recovered from the illness which ruled him out of Saturday's Premier League mauling of West Ham.

The 28-year-old has not travelled with Sir Alex Ferguson's side to leave his manager with a defensive headache for the game at Volkswagen Arena.

Ferguson's list of injured defenders includes Gary Neville and Wes Brown, who both limped off at Upton Park, plus longer-term casualties Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and Jonny Evans.

With the Da Silva brothers, Fabio and Rafael, also sidelined, the only orthodox defender Ferguson has in his squad is left-back Patrice Evra.

Ferguson has already revealed his intention to play Michael Carrick in central defence, while Darren Fletcher also seems certain to occupy a defensive berth.

10:32 United have packed the nappies and rusks for this trip! All the journalists on the plane are trying to work out what the back four will be. Any ideas? Post 'em in the Talking Reds thread please. I'd best turn off my phone and computer now – we're on the runway! I'll check in again once we've landed in Germany.

09:58 So Sir Alex is only taking 19 players, of whom only Oliver Gill and Patrice Evra are recognised defenders! Presumably Michael Carrick will continue at centre-back after filling in there at Upton Park on Saturday.

09:57 The full travelling squad is as follows, in no particular order: Ben Foster, Gabriel Obertan, Magnus Eikrem, Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia, Oliver Gill, Michael Carrick, Matty James, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher, Danny Welbeck, Ji-sung Park, Anderson, Patrice Evra, Cameron Stewart, Tomasz Kuszczak, Nani, Oliver Norwood.

No Rooney, No Berba, No Giggsy? I'm srsly doubting our chances over there. Hope we can scrap a draw. Forming a decent back four will be a challenge, considering we're up against Dzeko and Grafite.

i  tink sir alex wants to play a 4-5-1 formation to control more of midfield. I doubt we can score with berba alone though

nani will score.. mark my words

why no de laet??

Manchester United's injury crisis has worsened with the news defender Nemanja Vidic will miss their Champions League tie at Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

The Serb has a flu bug and been left at home, with United already through to the last 16 of the tournament.

Vidic joins Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, Rafael da Silva, Fabio da Silva, Johnny Evans and John O'Shea on the sidelines for United.

Michael Carrick will play at centre-back, possibly with Darren Fletcher.

Fletcher was expected to fill in at right-back but could now be forced to move to the centre following Vidic's withdrawal from the squad, although Patrice Evra could be another option.

United had hoped Vidic would have recovered from the flu bug that kept him out of Saturday's win at West Ham, but he failed to make the flight to Germany.

Oliver Gill, son of chief executive David, Magnus Eikrem, Cameron Stewart, Matt James and Oliver Norwood are all unfamiliar faces who were included in United's 19-man squad.

Who to play alongside Carrick?   

only Oliver Gill and Patrice Evra are recognised defenders.
oliver gill? i doubt that
maybe fletch will be shifted to cb and park at rb.
or anderson at LB and evra to partner carrick.

Ever since Manucho left, everything have turned upside down. Started with his loan spell last season, we were changing our back four frequently because of injuries here and there, but with him still near, we were able to still feel his aura that lessens the burden on those injuries. Now with him gone, Rio's back got worse and worse, same with Evans ankle which requires surgery now. We need to buy him back.

BTW Sheep, this isn't you right, challenging for his balls the ball there in the middle.