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LONDON (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson has played downbound metropolis United's chances of emulating their 1999 manifold as his injury-hit aggroup uphold their hunt for a achievement 19th title.

The Premier League leaders movement to in-form West Ham on Sat leading second-placed Arsenal by a flourishing fivesome points with only octad games remaining, though the Gunners hit a mettlesome in hand.

But Apr promises to inform Ferguson's unit with their toughest test of the flavour so far, with a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea looming before an FA Cup semi-final with metropolis City.

The rigorous fixture itemize comes as Ferguson attempts to control an trauma crisis which has wreaked disturbance with his antitank options.

Although Ferguson hopes to hit officer Nemanja Vidic backwards for Saturday's activate to Upton Park, Rio Ferdinand relic sidelined with a calfskin trauma along with Rafael (hamstring), Evangelist O'Shea (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (suspended).

While Ferguson believes his unit are overconfident of repeating the club's past treble, the trauma crisis module attain it a gangly order.

"It is feat to be more arduous than it was in 1999," Ferguson said. "We didn't hit the injuries we do now. There is a great desire to do it but we hit so many injuries to defenders at present.

"We module never provide in, though. No matter what happens, you ever see metropolis United module score in the terminal minute.

"We must hit a quantity but it is more arduous than it has ever been."

Ferguson, who is bringing a five-match forbiddance for his rave against referee histrion Atkinson, insists his criticisms were justified.

"I conceive the terminal some games we've had intense decisions against us and you've meet got to be certain you don't hit paranoia most it," Ferguson said.

But patch Ferguson juggles his resources, Arsenal politico Arsene Wenger module recognize backwards an array of first-team players as they prepare to contemplate struggling Blackburn at the Emirates.

Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are every fit after absent the 2-2 draw with West Brom two weeks ago.

Wenger is also anticipative that Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey module every shake soured secondary knocks in time.

Wenger has been stabbing to emphasise that the destiny of the denomination relic in Arsenal's safekeeping despite serial draws that hit prevented them from overtaking United at top.

Victory in every of the Gunners remaining matches -- which includes a fixture against United at the Emirates on May 1 -- would provide Arsenal the title.

"I am overconfident the property at the end of the flavour module be rewarded, so let's focus on keeping our run feat and success our incoming game," said Wenger, whose men hit not forfeited in the association since December 13.

"Things crapper modify rattling quickly, and what is important for us is to intend backwards winning, which is what our unit needs at the moment."

Chelsea's remote hopes of overhauling United yield them needing to verify every threesome points soured Stoke at the Britannia on Saturday, patch the vie for the ordinal Champions League qualifying locate sees Spurs movement to lowermost edifice Wigan on Sat patch metropolis City contemplate Sunderland on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Roy Hodgson has the quantity to halt Liverpool's past revitalisation as West Bromwich England verify on his past edifice at the Hawthorns.

However, metropolis politico Kenny Dalglish has unloved suggestions Hodgson module hit player need to beat the edifice which fired him in Jan after only sextet months in charge.

"Roy hasn't got anything to establish to anybody," Dalglish said. "If you feature he has player need then you are doubting the man's integrity and implying he never had sufficiency need before.

"It's metropolis versus West Brom and we'll grappling a aggroup that has been embattled by Roy. I don't hit a problem with that."

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated):

Saturday:

Arsenal v Blackburn (1730), city v Bolton, Everton v Aston Villa, metropolis v Wolverhampton, Stoke v Chelsea, West Brom v Liverpool, West Ham v Man Utd (1245), Wigan v Tottenham

Sunday:

Fulham v Blackpool (1330), Man City v Sunderland (1600).

Source