United hit by fixture congestion

Manchester United's worsening injury crisis has not been helped with next Monday's home clash with Everton being moved forward by 48 hours.

United will now play the Toffees in Saturday's late kick-off because of Everton's FA Cup replay with Liverpool, which will be played on 4 February.

Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Park Ji-sung - who are close to returns - will lose out on two days of extra recovery.

United are missing 12 senior players for Tuesday's trip to West Brom.

Ferdinand has had a lengthy lay-off because of a back problem, Brown has been missing with an ankle injury, while a hamstring complaint has been troubling Park.

Despite United knocking Tottenham out of the FA Cup on Saturday, the mood was tempered with Danny Welbeck and Fabio limping off at Old Trafford.

The fixture list is becoming increasingly hectic for the Premier League champions with their remaining outstanding game against Fulham - originally postponed in August because of the European Super Cup - pencilled in for 17 February.

However, that will be dependent on either side requiring a fifth-round FA Cup replay.

United face a trip to either Derby or Nottingham Forest, while Fulham have been drawn away to Swansea.

In addition, the Red Devils' home match against Portsmouth on 28 February has been postponed because of their appearance in the Carling Cup final the following day.

Following Everton's 1-1 draw with Liverpool in their fourth-round FA Cup tie on Sunday, the replay will be on 4 February.