Edwin van der Sar has been forced to withdraw from the Holland squad ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifiers against Romania and Slovenia.
The goalkeeper has missed Manchester United's last two matches with a toe injury and has continued to be bothered by the problem in training this week.
Wayne Rooney has admitted his lack of goals for England is becoming a worry.
Despite scoring goals against Macedonia and Liechtenstein back in 2003, the Manchester United ace has now gone 16 competitive games without finding the net.
You have to go back to Euro 2004 for Rooney's last goal in a competitive fixture and the former Everton striker is determined to put the record straight.
Michael Carrick says United's solid backline has provided the perfect platform on which to build this season's title challenge.
Rio and co. currently hold the best defensive record in the country, with just two goals conceded, and Carrick believes it will stand the Reds in good stead over the course of the campaign.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been pleasantly surprised by the way Nani has settled since moving from Sporting Lisbon, and the Reds boss predicts a bright future ahead for the Portuguese winger.
The 20-year-old has played in 11 of United's opening 13 fixtures in 2007/08, seven of which have been starts.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo feels that the 2007/2008 campaign will 'not be a good season' for Chelsea.
"Chelsea without Mourinho, that's a completely different team," he told Austrian newspaper Heute.
"You can never write Chelsea off, but I have a feeling that this will not be a good season for them."
Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have made FIFA's shortlist for the World Player of the Year award.
AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka is being touted as the favourite to win the prestigious accolade, although he faces stiff competition, particularly from the likes of United's very own Cristiano Ronaldo, who was instrumental in the Reds' title success last season.
Carlos Tevez and Patrice Evra have warned Arsenal not to get too excited about their position at the top of the table.
"Arsenal are the leaders in the table but Manchester United should be favourites for the title and the Champions League," Tevez told the Mirror
"I think we will show that and prove it to our opponents when we play them in the key matches this season.
John O'Shea feels that, in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, United are blessed with Europe's finest central defensive partnership.
The Reds' defence has made a rock-solid start to the season, conceding just two goals in eight Premier League games, and O'Shea feels Vidic and Ferdinand have been central to that record.
Spanish defender Gerard Pique hopes to capitalise on his recent United performances by commanding more regular action in the first-team.
The 20-year-old former Barcelona youngster has played in two of United's last four matches.
Louis Saha will miss France's Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania with a knee injury.
The United striker was called up for his country's Group B double-header, but left the French training camp in Clairefontaine on Tuesday, and the French Football Federation confirmed he will not be replaced in the squad.