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29 March 2024

No Rio for Arsenal: Smalling back for crunch Man Utd clash

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling set to play his first match this season against Arsenal on Saturday. (GETTY)

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By Staff

Rio Ferdinand could be benched for Manchester United's crunch game at the weekend against Arsenal this weekend since Chris Smalling and Phil Jones could return to action.

The duo are unlikely to play in Wednesday's night League Cup fourth round clash against Chelsea but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that 22-year-old Smalling can feature in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford, according to the Daily Mail (https://bit.ly/V6h7iU).

Neither player has featured this season with Smalling having broken a metatarsal in the summer and Jones having been hampered by back and knee problems.

"We will try to push Chris on quickly. I don't think he will make Wednesday's game but I am sure he will be ready for the following week," said Ferguson.

Smalling, 22, is back in training and with Nemanja Vidic currently sidelined after knee surgery, his return for United could not have come at a better time.

"There was some hope both he and Phil would be back for this busy schedule," he added since United have a trip to Portugal to face in the Champions League next week after the Arsenal clash.