United Skipper Fit for New Season While Moyes Eases Injury Concerns

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic believes he will be fit and ready for the new Premier League campaign after coming through a pre-season friendly in Sweden unscathed.

The Serbian international came back from a string of troubling knee problems in December last year but suffered a back injury that ruled him out of United's pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.

Fully recovered from his most recent set back, the United skipper completed 90 minutes for David Moyes' side in a 1-1 draw with AIK Fotboll in Stockholm to underline his bid to have his fitness at optimum level in time for the club's opener against Swansea City.

"I am pleased that I have 90 minutes under my belt," Vidic told MUTV. "It's a long time since I've played a full game.

"I am pleased with that and I hope that after this game I can pick up my fitness and I will be ready for the beginning of the season.

"It's frustrating when you don't get the games. I've done some good training but it's different when you're playing a match.

"I got 90 minutes and we have two more games before the start of the league season. Hopefully I can get another 90 minutes before then."

A twisted knee suffered in December 2011 followed by another knee operation in September last year has seen Vidic side lined for a total seven months over the past two seasons, but his 17 starting appearances for United following his return last winter suggest the Serb has plenty more left in the tank.

United were given a scare during their 1-1 draw, which needed a late equaliser from Angelo Henriquez to save them from a third pre-season defeat in Stockholm on Tuesday night, when Nani and Jonny Evans limped out of action.

Moyes has however insisted that both were taken off as a mere precaution.

"Jonny actually got kneed on the ankle," Moyes said. "He thought that he was going to be able to run it off. But if we left him on then it would only have got worse for him.

"Nani just felt his groin tighten up and he didn't want to take any risks. Neither did we. We thought it was safer to take him off at that time."