United Players on World Cup duty

United have a host of players away on international duty over the next week, with 17 Reds attempting to boost their country’s hopes of reaching next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Ji-sung Park and Antonio Valencia face the longest trips this week. Fortunately Park only has one match for Korea, against Australia in Seoul on Saturday.

But Valencia is in Columbia and Bolivia for Ecuador’s matches on Saturday and next Wednesday.

Wes Brown is one of four Reds - alongside Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ben Foster - who joined up with the England squad for their games against Slovenia and Croatia.

However, the Reds defender is already a doubt for Saturday's game against Slovenia after picking up an injury during training this week.

There was better news for Northern Ireland, though, as Jonny Evans gave them a boost ahead of matches with Poland and Slovakia by training with the squad despite having problems with an ankle injury of late.

Rooney, Brown, Carrick, Foster England v Slovenia 5 Sept; England v Croatia 9 Sept

Nani Denmark v Portugal 5 Sept; Hungary v Portugal 9 Sept

Evra France v Romania 5 Sept; Serbia v France 9 Sept

J.Evans Poland v N Ireland 5 Sept; N Ireland v Slovakia 9 Sept

Valencia Colombia v Ecuador 5 Sept; Bolivia v Ecuador 9 Sept

Berbatov Bulgaria v Montenegro 5 Sept; Italy v Bulgaria 9 Sept

O'Shea, Gibson Cyprus v ROI 5 Sept; ROI v S Africa 9 Sept

Park Korea v Australia 5 Sept

Vidic, Tosic Serbia v France 9 Sept

Fletcher Scotland v Macedonia 5 Sept; Scotland v Holland 9 Sept

De Laet Spain v Belgium 5 Sept; Armenia v Belgium 9 Sept

Macheda U21 Wales v Italy 4 Sept; U21 Italy v Luxembourg 8 Sept