Reds duo 'best in Europe'

John O'Shea feels that, in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, United are blessed with Europe's finest central defensive partnership.

The Reds' defence has made a rock-solid start to the season, conceding just two goals in eight Premier League games, and O'Shea feels Vidic and Ferdinand have been central to that record.

"It's a pretty happy camp at the moment, especially with the defensive situation with the clean sheets," O'Shea is quoted as telling the Manchester Evening News.

"Rio and Nemanja are definitely a major factor to it - you cannot ask for two better central defenders in Europe, in my opinion. I hope they will stay clear of injury because they have been a major influence on keeping the clean sheets."

The backline's miserly form laid the foundations for a title challenge during a start to the season in which goals have been hard to come by, until last weekend's thumping of Wigan.

And, with skipper Gary Neville set to make his comeback for the Reserves this week, O'Shea feels United's defence can continue to keep opponents at arm's length.

"For a defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a couple of goals," he said. "We hope we can keep it going. With the attacking quality we have, we know if we keep a clean sheet then nine times out of 10 we are going to win the game."