After rumours that Nemanja Vidic may have been fit in time for City, Sir Alex Ferguson has said it would have been ridiculous to bring him back for such a big game, although expects him to play against Sunderland.

Jonny Evans might be the one to make way for Vidic after picking up a hamstring injury in the derby.

“To put him in at City for his first game back would be crazy but I think the Sunderland game definitely,” said Ferguson. “Evans had a hamstring problem. He got it in the first half in a challenge from Balotelli but he played on while I had Chris Smalling warming up. It’s okay if you get through the first half but if you try to start again in the second half after cooling down, it can be a problem. So I knew he’d have to come off.”