Manchester United - Blackburn Preview

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is facing a defensive headache ahead of Saturday's clash with Blackburn at Old Trafford.Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are both doubtful with calf problems and Gary Neville is suspended. Ryan Giggs also has a knock and Danny Welbeck, who scored in the Carling Cup victory against Barnsley in midweek, is sidelined with a knee injury. Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park remain absent with groin and knee injuries respectively.Blackburn, whose squad have been struck by swine flu, have lost all four games on the road in the league this season. Rovers were thrashed 5-0 by Chelsea at the weekend although, like United, they progressed in the cup at the expense of Peterborough, managed by Ferguson's son Darren. And with the increasing threat of swine flu for the Blackbrun players, Jason Roberts has become the latest Blackburn player to come down with suspected swine flu ahead of the clash. The striker did not report to training this morning and is almost certain to miss the encounter. One player also thought to have suffered with the virus is David Dunn, but the midfielder looked to be in good health when he came off the bench against Peterborough in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, and is set to play again. Another is Chris Samba, who is back in training but unlikely to feature as he is still feeling weak. Pascal Chimbonda returns having recovered from his calf injury and Vince Grella is back in training after his thigh problem, but is unlikely to appear for the first team until next week. Blackburn go into Saturday's match having failed to pick up a point in their last nine away league games and Allardyce has called for a greater mental strength from his team.