Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed January as a crucial month in the title race, but warned that Chelsea's loss of players to the African Nations Cup will not be so disruptive to the Premier League leaders.

Chelsea have lost Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and will also be without Michael Essien for much of this month with the quartet involved in the competition.

But Fergie poured scorn on the notion that the enforced loss of those four players could hand United a crucial edge over their biggest title rivals.

"We hope the African Nations Cup has an impact that benefits us, but I'm not sure it'll be as big as people are saying," said Fergie."At the end of the day, we shouldn't be relying on other teams, we just need to rely on ourselves.

"We've certainly got the players, the squad structure and the experience to win it off our own bat."

From today's Daily Mirror:
Sol Campbell set to re-join Arsenal - Exclusive
Why Wenger will break his own rules to re-sign Campbell
Who said never go back? The Top 10 boomerang players

Liverpool sign Argentine winger Rodriguez

Tottenham, Blackburn and West Ham keen on signing Gudjohnsen 

Latics hit by double transfer blow Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers

By Mirror Football in Football Spy

Published 09:07 08/01/10

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From today's Daily Mirror:
Sol Campbell set to re-join Arsenal - Exclusive
Why Wenger will break his own rules to re-sign Campbell
Who said never go back? The Top 10 boomerang players

Liverpool sign Argentine winger Rodriguez

Tottenham, Blackburn and West Ham keen on signing Gudjohnsen 

Latics hit by double transfer blow
Click here to find out more!

Liverpool and Arsenal in bidding war for Bordeaux striker

Sunderland swoop for Hamburg defender

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will make a £3m bid to sign Hull City midfielder Stephen Hunt

Ipswich's Roy Keane bids to snatch Derby County defender 

Newcastle in £2.5million move for Preston defender

Birmingham target Sunderland striker and Liverpool winger in £25m spree 

Man City agree £4.5m fee for Argentine defensive star 

Southampton agree £1.2m deal for Crystal Palace star

Manchester City on transfer trail of Ajax ace

Palermo chief: No bids for Simon Kjaer 

Premier League giants close in on Palace star Victor Moses 

Charlton offload flop striker to Peterborough 

Bluebirds look the best Brett

Cardiff City defender Adam Matthews targeted by Manchester United and Arsenal

Hull City's Phil Brown launches loan bid for Aston Villa striker

Clough taking a punt on Hunt

Portsmouth to offload Utaka

Allardyce rows with Blackburn over free-agent Meriem

Leeds want Derby striker Davies on loan

Burnley face tough fight to tempt boss Grayson from Leeds

Patrick Vieira's Manchester City contract has 'flop-proof' get-out clause

Ferdinand back for United 

From today's other papers:
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is plotting a £43million summer bid for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas . The Gunners may be interested if Real throw in £25m-rated striker Gonzalo Higuain as part of the deal. (The Sun)

But Real's fierce rivals Barcelonaalso want the midfield star, and boss Pep Guardiola is stalling on signing a new contract with the club until they can guarantee the £50m signing of Fabregas . (Daily Star)

The Portsmouth player exodus is set to continue with Younes Kaboul likely to be next out the door. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is keen on the former Spurs defender. (Daily Mail)

West Ham want to take James Beattie on loan, but Stoke will only consider letting him go on a permanent deal. (Times)

Middlesbrough have offered a combined fee of £1.5 million to Celtic for Gary Caldwell, Barry Robson and Willo Flood , but the Scottish giants are holding out for double that. (Times)

Stoke Citycould replace Beattie with ex-Wigan striker Amr Zaki. The Egypt international, who scored 11 Premier League goals last season, has just been transfer-listed by Zamalek and the Potters are considering a £1m bid. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants 24-year-old Reading keeper Adam Federici for £2million to provide cover for Pepe Reina. (The Sun)

Wayne Rooney will become Manchester United's next captain if Gary Neville retires at the end of the season. (The Sun)

Norwich manager Paul Lambert has emerged as a leading contender to replace Owen Coyle at Burnley . (Daily Mail)

Or, Burnley want Swansea boss Paulo Sousa to take over at Turf Moor. (Guardian)

Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for 10 days with the injury that forced his late withdrawal from Manchester United's FA Cup defeat to Leeds.

Vidic felt a twinge in the warm-up before the 1-0 defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford last Sunday and Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the defender will miss United's next two games.

The Serbia defender will miss United's trip to Birmingham tomorrow, as well as the visit of Burnley to Old Trafford on January 16.

But he will be fit for the rescheduled first leg of United's Carling Cup semi-final tie against local rivals Manchester City at Eastlands on January 19.In his warm-up Nemanja felt a problem with a nerve going right down his leg which has been a bit of a problem for him recently," said Fergie.

"He didn't feel comfortable enough playing because it was quite a painful thing and I can understand that.

"We sent him to see a specialist on Wednesday and they were able to diagnose the problem.

"It's now down to the kind of exercise we're going to have to give him, and he should be ready in 10 days' time.

"He will be able to do most of his training during that time and it's not a long-term problem.

"We have Wes Brown and Jonny Evans fit for Saturday's trip to Birmingham, while Rio Ferdinand is not far off returning."

Сэр Алекс Фергюсон назвал «ерундой» слухи в прессе о том, что Гари Невилл завершит карьеру в конце нынешнего сезона. Фергюсон отрицает, то такое решение принято: «Мы не принимали решения относительно Гари Невилла. Почему мы должны принимать о его будущем, когда делать этого нам не нужно, мы не хотим принимать это решение в середине сезона. Так что все эти слухи полная ерунда»,- цитирует Фергюсона Manchester Evening News.