Rio Ferdinand out of Man Utd Champions League squad to face Benfica

Rio Ferdinand out of Man Utd Champions League squad to face Benfica

The centre-back is not thought to have suffered a fresh injury - instead being rested having played 90 minutes for the first time this season on Saturday.

With the 32-year-old's usual partner Nemanja Vidic also missing, Jonny Evans is set to again partner Phil Jones.

Michael Owen is included but Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda miss out.

Although Ferdinand and Vidic would still be United's first-choice defensive pairing, United have felt no ill effect from being unable to field them for a full match so far this season - Ferdinand having suffered from a back problem while Vidic injured his calf muscle.

In their absence, Evans and Jones have been at the heart of a defence that has conceded only three goals in four matches as the club have maintained a 100% record to move top of the Premier League.

With Chelsea the next visitors to Old Trafford on Sunday, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will need to manage his resources though he has suggested he will go with experienced players against a side that finished as distant runners-up to Porto in last season's Portuguese league.

That could mean a first start of the season for Ryan Giggs, while Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov could also come into the reckoning having been restricted to cameos so far this campaign.

With Tom Cleverley ruled for a month because of ankle ligament damage, Michael Carrick could come into central midfield.Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys

In their last Champions League match United were comprehensively outplayed in losing 3-1 to Barcelona in last season's final, however Carrick insists their confidence had not been dented.

"The Champions League final doesn't still hurt," he said.steeler jerseys cheap

"It was disappointing because we lost the final but it wasn't a massive failure.

"You have to accept they were good. It is up to us to be better."

Man Utd (from): De Gea, Lindegaard; Evans, Evra,wholesales mac Lip gloss Fabio, Jones, Smalling; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Valencia, Young; Berbatov, Hernandez,starcraft 2 Coaching Owen, Rooney.

City to probe cancer email allegations

City to probe cancer email allegations

Manchester City are to investigate claims that their chief executive Garry Cook sent an offensive email to the cancer-stricken mother of one of City's players,cheap nfl jerseys china the Premier League club announced on Monday.

Dr Anthonia Onuoha, mother and agent of City defender Nedum Onuoha, told The Sun newspaper earlier on Monday that she has asked the Football Association to investigate.

Cook has denied that he sent it, claiming someone hacked into his email account, but has apologised to Dr Onuoha while the club issued a statement promising a full investigation.

"Following allegations made to the football club by Dr Anthonia Onuoha, subsequently reported in today's (Monday) media, the club can confirm that a board-led review has been launched into the matter," read the statement.Cheap moncler jackets

Cook apologised for "any hurt or embarrassment this may have caused" as well as denying sending the email which had been intended for City's director of football, Brian Marwood.

"I cannot and will not condone this unacceptable behaviour," said Cook.

"I can confirm Brian (Marwood) did not receive this email and disciplinary action is currently under way regarding one of our employees."

According to The Sun, Dr Onuoha wrote to Marwood about a contract dispute between the club and her son, who is an England Under-21 international.

In an email sent to Marwood last October, she said that, although her body was "ravaged with cancer and ongoing chemotherapy", she was still able to fight her son's corner.

Two weeks later she received an email, apparently written by Cook but destined for Marwood and sent to Dr Onuoha by mistake.

The Sun claimed: "The e-mail was addressed 'Brian' then said: 'Ravaged with it!!......I don't now how you sleep at night. You used to be such a nice man when I worked with you at nike (sic).'"

Dr Onuoha told the paper: "When I opened up my emails and saw the message, it was the worst day of my life. Even worse than being diagnosed with cancer.

"I couldn't understand how anybody could behave like that. I just cried and cried for hours.Breitling watches wholesale

"I'm critically ill and at that point I was undergoing chemotherapy. I was just so shocked but I couldn't tell Nedum or any of my family because I didn't know how they would react.

"It's incredible that any human being would write this. It's unforgivable and I still cannot believe it."

A former executive at sportswear giant Nike, Cook was the subject of negative headlines in the early days of his tenure at City.

He once described controversial former City owner Thaksin Shinawatra as "a great guy to play golf with,digital video recorders" and said an attempt to sign Brazilian superstar Kaka failed because the player "bottled it".

However, Cook has also played an important role behind the scenes as City have established themselves as one of the strongest teams in England after years of under-achievement.