After their thrashing at Fulham, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted there's little hope of ending their injury crisis.

Seven defenders, including Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, have been lost to the treatment room and Ferguson admitted his side will fade from contention if their injury woes fail to improve.

"The way the league is at the moment I hope today is not too damaging. I hope it doesn't cost us the league," he told MUTV.

"We'll have to get our defenders back to give us a proper chance of going for the league, there's no question of that. But if we get them back we'll be back in it.

"The quicker they're back the better. They're doing their best. The medical team and physios are working overtime to get them back.

"There's no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment, that's for sure."