Its a real disappointment when players miss pre-season because it sometimes takes them quite a while to catch up with the rest of the squad. We should be ok though with Evans and Vidic at CB, Rio might find himself having to force his way back into the side if things go well.
He's only going to suffer more injuries as he gets older, sounds a bit hard hearted but maybe we should have got rid when he was banned for 9 months. If he gets injured again then and Vidic picks up a knock then we are stuck with Smalling :cry: and Evans :!:
Still Carrick can always play centre back now
Providing we keep Evans and Vida fit we should be alright against Everton away and Liverpool at home. As long as the back problems don't come back Rio will be fine once he recovers from this injury. This time out has probably helped his back a bit too.
2 reserves games before Everton and another before Liverpool, if he can feature a bit in them, he might play in one of them, depending how he comes through the reserves games. Hopefully his back and groin problems of the past don't come back.
Evans won't get a better chance to make a mark, his performance against FUlham wasn't very inspiring, needs to step up, if he has any hopes of replacing Rio or Vida one day...