United pair Ronaldo and Vidic close to fitness

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The duo were key absentees from Saturday's shock Barclays Premier League defeat at Bolton, with Vidic particularly missed as his replacement Gerard Pique made the mistake that gifted Nicolas Anelka his winner.

Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested neither Vidic's minor back problem nor the thigh strain Ronaldo picked up on international duty last week would have eased sufficiently for them to figure against Sporting.

However, they were able to take part in training, along with a remainder of Ferguson's weekend squad.

Having registered four straight wins in Group F so far, United are already assured of their place in the last 16.

Ferguson would hope to secure top spot and a more favourable knockout-round draw, although this may not prevent him giving some of his fringe men, such as Pique, Anderson, Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson more first-team experience.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Evans, O'Shea, Nani, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Anderson, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Saha, Tevez.