Alex Ferguson warns Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic

Posted Thursday, August 25, 2011 by The Sun

Alex Ferguson warns Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic
NO KIDDING ... United's young stars are putting pressure on Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic

ALEX FERGUSON has warned Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic: You have a fight on to win back your places.

Ferdinand will be fit for Manchester United's home date with Arsenal on Sunday, following a leg injury.

Vidic, though, is three weeks away with a calf problem.

In their absence, young stars Phil Jones, 19, Jonny Evans, 23, and Chris Smalling, 21, excelled in the back four in Monday's 3-0 win over Tottenham.

The United team in that Old Trafford match was the second-youngest boss Ferguson had fielded in Premier League history, with an average age of 23 years 191 days.

And now Ferdinand, 32, skipper Vidic, 29, and the rest of the club's established stars know they have a new challenge on their hands to retain regular first-team football.

Ferguson said: "Rio and Nemanja are aware of the abilities of the young players. There is no question about that.

"When they are both fit, or one of them is, I will have a decision to make."

England boss Fabio Capello could reward Smalling with a senior call-up for next month's Euro 2012 qualifiers, while Jones has been selected as part of Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad.

Smalling admitted: "I'd see an England call-up as a bonus.

"For now, I'm focused on cementing my place here at Manchester United.

"If I can do that, getting selected for England will be easier."

It is not just the established defenders who have a battle on their hands.

In midfield, 22-year-old Tom Cleverley has laid down the gauntlet to the likes of 30-year-old Michael Carrick, while Dimitar Berbatov, 30, watched as Danny Welbeck, 20, scored one goal and created another in the victory over Spurs.