Hamstring injury may rule United's Hargreaves out of Barcelona tie

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Midfielder Hargreaves has finally found form for United over recent weeks, adding a winning goal against Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday to a man-of-the-match display in the Champions League win over Roma at Old Trafford four days earlier.

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Worried man: Hargreaves could miss out on Barcelona just as he is finding form

But Sportsmail understands it was after the Arsenal game that Hargreaves felt the top of his right hamstring stiffen up and, as of Thursday afternoon, the problem had shown no sign of easing concerns over Rio Ferdinand and the Brazilian Anderson, but both are expected to be fit on Saturday.

Central defender Nemanja Vidic also has a good chance of playing after making a good recovery from a knee injury picked up in Rome a little over two weeks ago.

There was better news for Ferguson as midfielder Darren Fletcher, who suffered a knee ligament injury when on Scotland duty three weeks ago, is hoping to play again before the end of the season.

The 24-year-old said: 'I've a very good chance of being back in training with the lads in a week. I'm ahead of schedule.

'The medical people said I'd be out for six weeks but I'd like to think I could play some part in the run-in.'

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo has become so influential at Old Trafford that he carries the United team.

Torres said: 'Cristiano is at another level. He is so good he puts United on his shoulders and carries them in every game. He's above all other players in the world. He's a complete player.

'Barcelona will have to cover him because he can give United a great chance to qualify. If he feels comfortable and takes the game to the opposition, things will be complicated for Barca.'

Liverpool, United and Chelsea are having to put Champions League Final tickets on sale now, under instructions from UEFA.

The problems of processing visa applications to get into Russia, with the final on May 21, has forced the issue, with UEFA telling all four semi-finalists to invite ticket requests from fans immediately.