Nemanja Vidic is taking steps towards full fitness, and hopes to be ready for the start of the season.
Vidic has been out since December after damaging ligaments in his knee against Basel in the Champions League, and whilst Jonny Evans did an extremely good job deputising for the United captain along side Rio Ferdinand, Vidic’s absence was felt in some un-United like defensive displays.
But the defender has steadily been making his way back to fitness and has set himself a deadline of the start of the season to be back in the swing of things as he told The Sun:
“I can now run and do some things on the pitch which is better for me psychologically because for the last four months it’s been every day in the gym, which is hard.
“But the worst part is behind me. I can look forward to the second half of the rehabilitation and work more on my fitness.
“Hopefully, I’ll be fit for the big kick-off.”
It will be great to get the big man back, but next season we need to start pushing Evans, Smalling and Jones on further. I know everyone wants a right back signed, but I would hesitate only because last season it allowed Smalling and Jones to get more game time. They will both only improve and get more experience if they are playing games.
Lilium Thuram was one of the best defenders I have ever seen and he was accomplished at both right back and centre back. Thuram was a great centre back but he was also a quality right back. Smalling is the kind of player who can aspire to be accomplished and comfortable in both positions. He started the season at right back and I thought he did really well.