Fergie calls upon young minders for United keeper De Gea

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Manchester United's young defenders to nurse goalkeeper David de Gea through his faltering start to life in the Barclays Premier League.

The United manager confirmed that captain Nemanja Vidic faces up to five weeks out with a calf injury, as revealed in Sportsmail on Friday, and that Rio Ferdinand will miss Monday's clash against Tottenham at Old Trafford despite recovering well from a hamstring strain.

In a flap: De Gea has had a rough start to life at United

Phil Jones, 19, will partner Jonny Evans, 23 in the centre of defence, with his England Under 21 colleague Chris Smalling at right back.

Patrice Evra, 30, returns on the left to raise the average age of United's back five to 22½, but it is not the experienced defence Ferguson would have wanted to shield his £17.8million goalkeeper, 20, after a series of errors.

'They are young but they have the temperament and the courage to play,' said Ferguson.

'I see it more as something I'm looking forward to than worrying about. De Gea will learn by experience of the games he has had so far. But I've no worries.'