Manchester United are facing mounting defensive concerns ahead of their last 16 Champions League game against Inter Milan.

United were already without Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic due to suspension for Tuesday's first leg at the San Siro and they lost Jonny Evans to an ankle injury in the 2-1 Premier League win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

And with Gary Neville and Wes Brown struggling with injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson is now hoping John O'Shea can overcome an ankle problem in order to partner Rio Ferdinand at centre-back against Jose Mourinho's team.

"We've got some injury issues of course and I just hope we can get two center-backs out there on Tuesday," Ferguson said. "At this moment in time, it's very doubtful. Jonny Evans is unlikely to be playing, he's looking very doubtful and I'm just hoping to have John O'Shea available because we don't have Gary Neville and we don't have Wes Brown.

"We're having a nightmare with defenders this season. Hopefully we can patch it up with Tuesday because this does leave us very, very short."

(Agencies via China Daily Feburary 23, 2009)