The Serbian defender had recovered from cruciate ligament damage before suffering another knee injury in September.

United are unwilling to take any risks with their injury-plagued skipper and Ferguson said the 31-year-old could return by Christmas.

"I think we're talking around December for Vidic," Ferguson told MUTV.

"Maybe around Christmas time."

Vidic has been with the Manchester club since 2006, but was recently linked with a big-money move to Anzhi Makhachkala.