United suffer blow ahead of Italian trip

Nemanja Vidic’s long awaited return to action for Manchester United has been put on hold after he failed to make the trip to Italy to take on seven-times winners AC Milan in the Champions League. The tough Serbian was expected to feature at the San Siro on Tuesday night when the two giants of European football clash in the last 16 of Europe’s premier football competition. Vidic, who has a nerve problem in his leg, has not featured for the Red Devils in 2010. Jonny Evans or Wes Brown should partner new England skipper Rio Ferdinand in central defence. Also absent are veteran Ryan Giggs, who is out with a broken arm, and misfit Brazilian Anderson, whose United career appears to be coming to an end. Otherwise manager Sir Alex Ferguson has a full squad to choose from.