Moyes: Vidic Must Fight For His Place

David Moyes has told Nemanja Vidic he cannot expect to walk straight back into the Manchester United team.

The United captain is fit to return after recovering from a minor injury suffered during the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at Old Trafford on December 7.

Vidic missed the wins against Shakhtar Donetsk and Aston Villa where United managed to keep successive clean sheets for only the second time this season.

The Serbian, who has been the cornerstone of United's defence following his arrival from Spartak Moscow almost eight years ago, has been plagued by injury since rupturing his cruciate ligaments in the Champions League to Basle in December 2011.

Jonny Evans and Phil Jones looked particularly untroubled at Aston Villa on Sunday and Moyes wants Vidic to fight to regain his place in the United defence.

"Nemanja is just about ready to play now," said Moyes.

"But we have five centre-halves. We can use Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand and him.

"There is competition for places there and you are going to have to play well to stay in the team."