SOCCER:ALEX Ferguson was left to lament a "torrid few days" after Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic picked up injuries to join Rafael Da Silva on the sidelines.

The United manager is hopeful that Vidic, who has a calf problem, will only be out for a fortnight but Ferdinand will be sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury. Ferdinand will miss United’s crucial home Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal as well as England’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales next month. He would also appear to be struggling for United’s trip to Chelsea on 18 September.

Da Silva is due to undergo an operation after he dislocated his shoulder in training on Friday. He will be out for 10 weeks.