Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready for Nemanja Vidic to play against Sunderland.

Ferguson believes Vidic will be ready to put an injury-blighted 16 months behind him - and plug the league leaders' leaky defence.

The United chief said: "It would have been crazy to play him against City but against Sunderland... definitely.

"It's a big bonus to have him back. He is a real competitor with that uncompromising way of his. He likes defending - that's what it is."