The pressure of the season is starting have its toll on champions Manchester United as their worsening injury crisis is made worse by an ever-strangulating fixture congestion.

Manchester United have had their Everton clash postponed until January 31 2009, as Everton themselves will face an extra fixture (as will Liverpool) due to their FA Cup replay, scheduled on February 4.

So far, the casualty list remain long, giving Alex Ferguson big selection problems - Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Park Ji-sung are close to regaining match fitness but they aren't available just yet. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov is fit and that will be a small consolation for the Scotsman. As things stand at the moment, Darren Fletcher may be rotated around the pitch and deployed at right-back, while footballer of the year Cristiano Ronaldo is uncertain to be fit for the match, still nursing the effects of a stomach bug that brought him down. Thus, United are missing 12 senior players for Tuesday's trip to West Brom Albion.

West Brom are having a few selection issues of their own as well, with midfielder Jonathan Greening also being included in the casualty list, collecting an injury during the weekend. Ryan Donk suffered a groin injury, and, although he is not fit, according to the club's official website, he might have to be fielded as Abdoulaye Meite, Jonas Olsson, Leon Barnett and Neil Clement are all absent.

Tony Mowbray is reluctant to do so, but has told the clubs website that he is left with no other option but to field the injured Ryan Donk against Manchester United.

Donk, who was injured himself during Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round draw with Burnley in the 72nd minute with a groin problem, is one of the 11 senior players in the West Brom MASH tent.

"Ryan more than anyone on our injury list will have a chance of playing," Mowbray said to the club's website. "If we do decide to risk him, it's a wait-and-see scenario. Let's hope he doesn't have to over-stretch it in the opening minutes. We're at a place now where, because of Barnett, Olsson, Meite, Martis and Clement missing, it's not ideal."