Yet that only increases his selection dilemmas.

While the likes of Nani, Park Ji-Sung and Zoran Tosic might have understood if they were left out of the Red Devils starting line-up in favour of the world footballer of the year, they will probably not be as comfortable sitting on the sidelines now he is no longer there.

And it is even worse in central midfield, where Michael Carrick, Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will compete for two spaces, knowing Owen Hargreaves could be back in a few weeks’ time to generate even more competition.

“I still have the same problems,” Ferguson said.

“We have so many options my door will be worn out by the end of the year.”