Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits they're in a defensive injury crisis after defeat at Everton.

Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are all currently sidelined, with Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitting it could be "a couple of weeks" before his defence takes on a more familiar composition.

"I don't think any of them [Ferdinand, Evans, Smalling, Jones] will be fit for Saturday," Sir Alex told MUTV. "Hopefully Jonny Evans is getting near. Obviously we've got a good week's training now and that will bring him on a good bit.

"Hopefully in a couple of weeks we should be okay.

"Michael Carrick's not used to playing as a centre-back but he did all right, he did fine. He applied himself well tonight - they all did."