PREVIEW-Soccer-United count the wounded before Milan clash

By Trevor Huggins

LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Manchester United are facing a full-blown injury crisis before their biggest match of the season in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final with AC Milan. Injuries to defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Kieran Richardson in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough mean that seven of United's first-team squad are on the treatment table before the first leg at Old Trafford.

Worse still for manager Alex Ferguson, the problems have focused on a defence that badly needs to deny Milan an away goal before United's trip to the San Siro next Wednesday.

Ferdinand, who will also miss the second leg with a groin strain, joins injured fellow defenders Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre and Nemanja Vidic.

To add to their woes, central defender Craig Cathcart, who had just been drafted in from United's youth ranks as cover, has suffered a long-term injury in training.

Richardson's absence is a particular blow as he can also deputise at left back. South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung and French striker Louis Saha are also out.

On the bright side, Ferguson expects left back Patrice Evra to return after limping out of last week's Premier League win over Sheffield United and Neville might just be back in time.

United, who routed AS Roma 7-1 at home two weeks ago, will look to Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to use their pace and strike power to pressurise a Milan defence that includes 38-year-old Paolo Maldini.

However, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that very wealth of experience will give his team the edge.