Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised defender Nemanja Vidic ahead of his expected return to the Red Devils side.

The Serbian could make his first-team comeback in Wednesday's Champions League encounter against Cluj following two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

"I knew he was doing really well with the physios," said Ferguson. "He was doing his football training with them in terms of turning and striking the ball but he came into training last Monday with the first team and did okay.

"He's a battler, an absolute competitor. He's got that dour, uncompromising way of his. He likes defending, that's what he does."

The 31-year-old has had an inconsistent period in his United career after missing the majority of last season through injury.