Former Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen believes Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will be feeling the heat from homegrown defensive pair Jonny Evans and Wes Brown.

McQueen believes the Ferdinand-Vidic double act will be restored, but that their grip on the role has been severely loosened.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "Wes is an England international and Jonny is one of the most highly-rated centre-backs in British football and probably Europe.

"The pecking order might not be so cut and dried anymore. It is no longer set in stone.

"I remember a time when I was at Old Trafford and for a while if ever I was out injured for two or three matches I would always get back into the side once fit.

"But then the likes of Kevin Moran and Graeme Hogg started to step in and prove themselves and me returning was no longer so certain. I knew I had a scrap on. I had to look over my shoulder.

"There is no doubt that Ferdinand and Vidic are facing that same uncertainty now. They cannot consider themselves definite starters when fit anymore."