Michael Carrick is hoping he will not be forced into emergency defensive duty for Manchester United, who could be without 11 players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
The injury list lengthened during Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League win over Marseille, with right-backs John O'Shea and Rafael da Silva both suffering hamstring problems. Unless Jonny Evans recovers from a calf injury that has sidelined him for eight games, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have only four fit defenders, including Rafael's twin brother Fabio da Silva, who played at right-back against Marseille despite being primarily a left-back.
United faced a similar crisis last December, when Carrick and Darren Fletcher were deployed in defence for a 3-0 defeat at Fulham. Carrick is keen to avoid a repeat, saying: 'It did get a mention in the changing room. I said to Mike Phelan, 'I don't fancy that again'. It is never nice to get the injuries of course. It is disappointing when you pick up a number in a similar position. But I don't think we are that desperate yet and hopefully I won't be called upon.'
United have lost their last two league games, at Chelsea and Liverpool, and their lead over Arsenal is down to three points having played a game more. They can ill afford further setbacks.
