Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson said Neville decided to hang the shoes at the end of this season is a lie news.

“I do not know where these rumors come from,” said Fergie. “Gary has not made any decisions and we have not made any decision.”

Neville has made 13 appearances for the Red Devils this season, but more exposed to injury.

“I always tell my players when you will make decisions about your future, make sure you do it in summer. You do not make decisions like we talked about in the middle of the season. That’s nonsense,” he explained.

Two seasons ago, the Red Devils looked well set for a repeat of their 1999 Treble-winning campaign only for injuries to strike at just the wrong time, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson with a squad so exhausted it was unable to cope with the demands.

Now Ferguson must privately fear the same scenario is unfolding again.

The United manager already knows he will be without five front-line defenders for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Tottenham with the possibility of a sixth – Gary Neville – missing out as well.

It means Darren Fletcher is almost certain to be asked to fill the right-back berth at the weekend, with Rafael’s twin brother Fabio possibly in line for a senior debut too should Neville fail to make it.

Ferguson must also keep an element of freshness about his squad for Tuesday’s Premier League trip to basement boys West Brom.

It is hardly the ideal backdrop to a knockout fixture, especially as Spurs have done far better in cup combat this term than they have in the weekly grind of their league campaign.

But defender John O’Shea insists as long as the newly-crowned world champions have the chance of winning all four trophies, they will be going for it.

“We are going for all four,” said the Republic of Ireland international.

“It is something you hope for at the start of the season. There is confidence that these four trophies are all up for grabs.

“And when you have the players and belief we have, why not?

“Fingers crossed when the Champions League starts up again we will have a fully-fit squad. That is when we will start to dream about those sorts of things.

“For the moment we will just look at each game individually but it is going well for us so far.”

By the time United tackle Inter Milan at the San Siro on February 25, they should have their outstanding Premier League fixture with Fulham out of the way, although another – against Portsmouth on February 28 – must now be rearranged as a result of Tuesday night’s triumph.

Of more immediate concern is what damage United sustained reaching the Carling Cup final with last night’s 4-2 win over Derby. Anderson is due to discover tomorrow the extent of an ankle injury that saw him carried off after the final whistle.

The Brazilian was in pain when he was dispatched to hospital but it will require a further X-ray to establish the precise cause, although ligament damage is suspected.

Having suffered so badly a couple of years ago, Ferguson increased his squad strength and O’Shea is confident they will survive.

“Fingers crossed we will be okay for Saturday,” he said.

“The thing is players know if they are not fit other lads can come in, do well and keep their positions.

“That should be an incentive for people to get up off the treatment table and get playing.

“We are all going to be needed over the next few weeks.”

Patrice Evra’s foot injury, following on separate suspensions that ruled him out for five games, have given O’Shea an extended run in the side.

A veteran of well over 300 senior appearances for the Old Trafford outfit, O’Shea was scoring his 13th United goal when he slotted home the second in the win over Derby.

It was the first time he had found the net since an effort at Everton in April 2007 proved pivotal in the title race.

“I thought I was offside,” admitted O’Shea, even if TV replays proved otherwise.

“But the flag never came so I just put it in.

“It is a while since I scored but I had a feeling it was going to come because I have been getting closer in recent games.”

FOOTBALL365.com

The Premier League champions cruised into a 3-0 halftime lead with goals from Nani, John O`Shea and Carlos Tevez but had to withstand a spirited second-half fightback from the Championship (second division) strugglers.

Derby substitute Giles Barnes slotted home a penalty with 10 minutes remaining to give Derby hope of forcing extra time only for Cristiano Ronaldo to restore United`s cushion. Barnes set up an anxious finale with a stoppage time free-kick.

United, who have reached the final for the seventh time, will face either Premier League Tottenham Hotspur or Championship side Burnley in the Wembley final. Tottenham won the first leg 4-1 at home.

Victory came at a price for United, however, with midfielder Anderson taken off the field on a stretcher and Brazilian teenager Rafael damaging his hamstring.

“We don`t know exactly what it is yet but he`ll go for an X-ray,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.

Derby appeared to be heading for a thrashing as United, with several first team regulars rested or on the bench, appeared to have killed off the tie within 35 minutes.

Portuguese midfielder Nani unleashed a swerving shot past former United keeper Roy Carroll after 16 minutes and O`Shea was allowed to move into the area unopposed to sidefoot the second.

Tevez nodded in a Rafael cross to leave Derby`s players looking crestfallen and United could have been further ahead before the halftime whistle.

Derby improved after the break and carved out several decent chances before Paul Green had his ankles clipped in the penalty area by United defender Jonny Evans and Barnes beat reserve keeper Ben Foster from the spot.

Ronaldo, who started on the bench, slotted a penalty past Carroll soon afterwards following a foul by Carroll on Tevez. Derby were rewarded for their effort again when Barnes squeezed a free kick inside Foster`s near post but United held on.

ANTARA News

Tévez’s preference is to remain at Old Trafford and his agent has held talks with United about securing a permanent deal this summer. The player was an unused substitute for the 3-0 win at home to Chelsea on Sunday.

“I saw Manchester United win without Tévez,” Maradona said. “This isn’t good for him. Certain episodes are bringing closer his exit. Italy and Inter would be excellent solutions. His contract is running out, which makes it easier to change team.”

The Times

The Manchester United manager has struggled to contain his anger at the FA’s handling of the Evra affair, which related to a fracas involving a Chelsea groundsman during a post-match warm-down at Stamford Bridge last April, but his outrage grew when he discovered that Nicholas Stewart, QC, who chaired the four-man commission, has a season ticket at the Emirates Stadium.

While the integrity of Stewart, a specialist in sports law, is not in question, the decision to appoint an Arsenal fan to oversee the case has been seized upon by Ferguson as yet more evidence of a perceived anti- United conspiracy within the FA.

It emerged last night that Ferguson was so incensed by the discovery that he made reference to it in his column in the match programme for United’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, only to remove his complaint on the recommendation of David Gill, the club’s chief executive.

Gill, a less confrontational figure, shared some of Ferguson’s unhappiness, but was able to persuade the United manager that it was not the time or the place to air such concerns.

Ferguson nonetheless made a more oblique reference to his latest grievance, writing: “I’m still shocked by the four-match ban handed out to Patrice following the incident at Stamford Bridge that saw him at odds with one of their groundsmen. It’s gone now, of course, and the important thing is our full concentration on getting the right result against a team who historically have done well at Old Trafford.”

Evra returned from suspension to play against Chelsea, having missed Barclays Premier League matches against Stoke City and Middlesbrough, an FA Cup tie against Southampton and the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Derby County.

United were highly critical of the FA’s handling of the case, both in terms of the severity of the defender’s punishment — Evra was also fined £15,000 — and the lack of action against the Chelsea employee, though they decided not to appeal. The club’s unhappiness grew when the FA published the full details of the commission’s report, including criticism of the testimonies of Mike Phelan, the assistant manager, and Richard Hartis, a goalkeeping coach. Lord Triesman, the FA’s independent chairman, felt compelled to apologise to Gill when they met on December 23.

Triesman tried to dismiss Ferguson’s concerns about an alleged anti-United bias at the FA, but it seems that the Scot is unconvinced. While Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, has infuriated Ferguson with a series of complaints about United in recent days, Ferguson appears determined to intensify his crusade against the game’s establishment.

Neither United nor the FA would comment last night, while Stewart could not be contacted. Stewart, who was called to the bar in 1971 and has been a QC since 1987, is described on the website of Ely Place, his chambers, as “a safe pair of hands” and is also an appeal board chairman and a specialist member of the FA’s judicial panel.

He was appointed to chair the Evra case, where he was joined on the commission by Barry Bright, the chairman of the FA’s disciplinary committee, Roy Carter, of the West Riding FA, and David Pleat, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager.

Times Online

Leaders Liverpool have a five point lead over third-placed United, but the Manchester side have two games in hand.

“They are the favourites and the champions right now and have shown over the years they are a very powerful team,” said the 24-year-old Spaniard.

“They have two more games to play. If they catch up they will be top.”

Torres, who was one of the nominees for the Fifa Player of the Year title, won by United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, said his side’s match at Old Trafford on 14 March could decide the destination of the title.

“We know we have Old Trafford waiting for us and then Arsenal and Chelsea at home – we have to fight until the very end,” added the forward.

“The match at Old Trafford could turn out to be the decider and we hope we can be on an equal footing when we go there and try to win the match at a place that has not been advantageous for us in the past.”

United are at home to Wigan on Wednesday before travelling to Bolton next Saturday.

Wins would see Sir Alex Ferguson’s side gain the advantage in the title race with Liverpool not playing their next match until Monday 19 January when they host the derby against Everton.

BBC Sport