Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out for a further two weeks with the ankle injury he sustained against Fulham, leaving United's light on options up front for Aston Villa's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.

United are already without Wayne Rooney, who joins Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes on the sidelines through suspension.

Berbatov won't be back in training until the tail end of next week, while Sir Alex is waiting for Carlos Tevez and Anderson, United's two South American representatives, to return on Friday afternoon before he makes a decision on their fitness. Reports suggest Anderson picked up an injury in training for Brazil, but Tevez is expected to lead the line for United.

"If Tevez is OK, at least I've got one striker!" said the boss half-jokingly. "I'll have to think who I play with him."

The Reds boss may opt to pair Cristiano Ronaldo or Ryan Giggs up front with the Argentinian; otherwise the only options are 18-year-old Danny Welbeck and 17-year-old Federico Macheda.

There was good news for United, however, with Ji-sung Park back in training this morning, and Gary Neville could be handed his first start since January.

"Gary did very well in the Reserves," said Sir Alex. "You could tell he needed a game. His training performances have been very good, and he certainly comes into the picture for Sunday."

Sir Alex has some difficult decisions ahead of crucial Premier League game, but he remains calm and confident. "With the extra day's rest after the internationals, I'm relatively confident we can get a fit team together."

Rio Ferdinand will be handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis once United's most experienced campaigners have called time on their Old Trafford careers.

Since joining the club in the summer of 2002, the England international has not only developed into one of the Reds' most important and consistent performers, he has become a natural leader as well.

He has already skippered the Reds on a number of occasions over the last few seasons, including last season's Champions League final, in the absence of club captain Gary Neville and United's record appearance holder Ryan Giggs. And Sir Alex confirmed the 30-year-old will become the full-time bearer of the armband in the coming years.

"When players first come to the club you don't know enough about them [to see whether they're captain material], it's only in the last few years that I've seen that with Rio," explained the United boss.

"He had a casualness about him when he first joined as a young lad which sometimes frustrated you, but he's matured and has a great strength of character.

"He's a good leader now and I think he will be our captain when Neville and Giggs hang their boots up."

Despite seeing Ferdinand substituted late on in England's victory over Ukraine with a groin problem in midweek, Sir Alex remains hopeful he will be fit to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

"He didn't train on Friday, but we hope he will on Saturday," revealed the boss. "He's got a good chance for Sunday, although if he does play he may be struggling by Tuesday  . However, the important thing is to get him ready for Sunday."

Man Utd vs Aston Villa

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, O'Shea, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez

Subs: Foster, Park, Welbeck, Gibson, Martin, Macheda, Eckersley

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor

Subs: Guzan, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Albrighton

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Not to mention Ashley Young who is fast and trickery as well, not to mention he play as LW. Surely he'll try to attack Neville as much as possible. If he can't handle him, don't be surprise he'll be shifted as CB. But then he'll be up against the strong Carew as well. Kinda afraid of the defence, especially how we concede so many goals in the past 2 matches. Tevez as lone striker also don't seem that strong as well. Guess we have to believe in our squad that we can win it!

ADDED : the bench seems like from the reserve squad, guess we have to trust our starting 11 as the bench don't seem to have any impact player.