Vidic set for Anfield clash

Posted Sunday, October 09, 2011 by ESPN

Nemanja Vidic is winning the battle to make his long-awaited return against Liverpool next weekend, according to reports.

The Daily Mirror claims Vidic is likely to make his comeback for United at Anfield next Saturday if he comes through Serbia's game against Slovenia on Tuesday.

Vidic has been out since August after suffering a calf injury at West Brom, but he was allowed to travel to join the Serbia squad this week and is in line to start Tuesday's game.

Manchester United have three players - England duo Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley, as well as Vidic - who have a chance of being fit for the crucial Barclays Premier League visit to Liverpool on October 15.

Smalling and Cleverley are battling to overcome groin and foot injuries respectively.

"The most important thing is the work they do before the internationals finish," Ferguson told MUTV.

"We really want to have Vidic and Cleverley doing some really strong work, and Smalling too, that would bring them on to a level that they could play at Anfield.

"You can't go there with players who are semi-fit or just coming back from injury. You need players who are fully focused and up to speed in terms of fitness and sharpness."

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is also hoping to win the race to be fit for one of English football's most mouth-watering fixture.

Johnson is still struggling to fully recover from a hamstring injury he picked up in a pre-season friendly against Valencia. The England international did return for the Reds as a substitute in the defeat to Stoke on September 10 but only managed to aggravate the injury further.