Nemanja Vidic is not going to spend too much time doing background work on what Fulham pair Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora are likely to do in the FA Cup this weekend.

By no means is Vidic's attitude a measure of over-confidence from a player who was a central component in Manchester United's record run of clean sheets and is in line to be named as footballer of the year.

It is more to do with the fact Vidic feels an over-reliance on statistics can affect a player's focus.

"I don't really study statistics of our upcoming opponents," Vidic said.

"There is too much talk about shots on target and things like that. Sometimes it can be about luck, other times we do the job well.

"The main thing is that we win games and win trophies. Then we can be proud of what we have done at the end of each season." After sitting out last weekend's Carling Cup Final, Vidic should be involved at Craven Cottage as United try to book a semi-final slot for the fourth time in six years.

Sir Alex Ferguson is bound to have more than half an eye on Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan as he decides who will play against Fulham, so Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson can all expect to be involved in some capacity, along with Wembley man of the match Ben Foster as Edwin van der Sar is set for a rest.

Vidic will have a late check on his eye after he was injured by a stray elbow from Obafemi Martins in the 2-1 win at Newcastle.

Cristiano Ronaldo could be on the bench, too, as Ferguson decides whether he needs to play safe with the world player of the year, who has endured a turbulent week, harshly booked for diving on Sunday before being clattered from behind by Steven Taylor at St James' Park.

Given Ferguson stated afterwards he expected Taylor to be punished by the Football Association, it is fair to assume the United boss would not have been impressed to learn Soho Square officials have no power to take any further action as referee Steve Bennett reviewed the incident - which he missed at the time - on video and declared it worthy of a yellow card.

Bennett has already sent Ronaldo off twice before, once at Portsmouth and again at Manchester City earlier this season. Arsene Wenger said today that he feels that Ronaldo is not being protected by referees because he shows too much arrogance on the pitch.

That is not a view likely to be shared by Ferguson who feels the 24-year-old winger's extreme talent is making him fair game.

"Ronaldo is an easy target for the referees," he said.

"It is easy to give decisions against him because he is such a great player and he is so celebrated.

"When he is away from home every crowd boos him, so he has to handle that. But it is not helping him."