Vidic doubtful for Bolton trip
Nemanja Vidic is currently away with the Serbia squad
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Monday, 19, Nov 2007 11:39
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic may miss trip Saturday's trip to Bolton Wanderers due to international commitments.
The centre-back is currently on duty with Serbia, whose Euro 2008 qualifier against Kazakhstan at the weekend had to be rescheduled because of inclement weather in Belgrade.
Heavy snow falling prior to kick off made the conditions unplayable and Uefa consequently postponed the match until this weekend, meaning it clashes with the Premier League game at the Reebok Stadium.
Serbia's next game is against Poland on Wednesday and the result from that game could render Saturday's tie meaningless.
If Vidic's side fail to win, or Portugal avoid defeat against Finland on the same night, then Serbia cannot qualify for Euro 2008.
This would leave the door open for Sir Alex Ferguson to request the return of his influential defender, who has formed a strong defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand at the heart of United's back four.
Vidic has also made it clear that he would not be averse to returning to club duty early, if he would otherwise be playing in a largely meaningless tie.
After a solid start to the Premier League season, United currently sit second in the table behind Arsenal on goals scored.
However it has been the champions' defensive performances that have attracted the most praise.
"We're happy with the start we've made," Vidic told the official Manchester United website.
"I'm particularly pleased with the way we've been defending. We haven't lost many goals - in the first eight league matches we conceded only two goals, one of them a deflection - which is very pleasing.
"Defensively we are strong and playing really well and I think we can keep doing that, but we also know we have strikers who have the quality to score at the other end."