Serbian now on course to feature in top-flight opener at Swansea.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
New Manchester United head coach David Moyes has received a huge boost after captain Nemanja Vidic played the full 90 minutes of the club’s friendly with AIK Fotboll in Stockholm on Tuesday night, reports the Daily Mail.
The hugely influential Serbia international has not featured for the Premier League champions so far this summer, having remained in the UK while the rest of the Red Devils squad undertook an arduous pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia so as to rest his troublesome back.
The 30-year-old has endured an injury-ravaged past two years ever since rupturing ligaments in his knee playing against FC Basle in the Uefa Champions League on Dec 7 2011, an injury that subsequently ruled the centre back out of the rest of that campaign.
And with Vidic also suffering from a back complaint of late, the Serbian has been restricted to making just 33 appearances in total in all competitions for United in the previous two seasons, including only 25 matches in the Premier League in that time.
However, Moyes will be delighted that his skipper came through unscathed in Tuesday’s warm-up in the Swedish capital, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and is now on course to be fit to take his place at the heart of the United back four for their Premier League opener against Swansea City at the Liberty stadium on Saturday Aug 17.
“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 (last night) and we have two more games before the start of the league season. Hopefully I can get another 90 minutes before then.”