Rio Ferdinand is confident he will be fit for Manchester United's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Saturday, as the crucial fixtures pile-up thick and fast for Alex Ferguson's side.

The defender limped out of the FA Cup semi-final win over Watford with a groin injury and will have a scan tomorrow to assess the full extent of the problem.

With Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre currently sidelined as well, United's resources are being stretched to breaking point.

Darren Fletcher finished the 4-1 Villa Park win as a makeshift right-back, with Gabriel Heinze alongside Wes Brown in central defence.

With only Youth Cup star Craig Cathcart as an alternative, United will desperately hope Ferdinand's injury is only as minor as the defender believes.

"I don't know about Tuesday (against Sheffield United) but think I should be all right for Saturday," he said. "It was the semi-final of the FA Cup, so I was disappointed to come off.

"I will speak to the physios about the injury, and I will obviously know more next week, but hopefully it is not too bad."

After missing the 2004 final win over Millwall due to his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test, Ferdinand ended the following year's showpiece in tears as United's dominance went unrewarded with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Arsenal.

The defender is now eager to make amends, with a return to the FA Cup's spiritual home an added incentive.

"Once we knew the final was going to be played at Wembley, we wanted to get there even more," he added. "It has a great history. To be the first to play there will be phenomenal. Hopefully, we can go there and win.

"All that was important today was winning. The performance was secondary.

"We were disappointed to concede a goal but the response we are getting at the moment to conceding goals is more important than anything."