Sir Alex Ferguson looks to squad depth

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has acknowledged his squad will be tested over the busy festive period.

The Red Devils face a spell of five games in 18 days with a squad that is thin on numbers due to a growing injury list.

Captain Nemanja Vidic was recently ruled out for the season with a knee injury, while Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Michael Owen, Javier Hernandez, Fabio and Rafael are all currently sidelined.

"December is a particularly busy month when we often play eight or nine games," Ferguson told Inside United.

"We've got a Boxing Day Game, a New Year's Eve game... it's going to be a hectic spell and that's when the squad really kicks in."

United currently sit second in the Premier League table, two points behind neighbours Man City.