Van der Sar upbeat about Man United's chances

Edwin van der Sar believes Manchester United have done well to stay in touch with Chelsea despite the injury problems that have dogged the season at Old Trafford.

United go into their meeting with Aston Villa tonight two points behind Carlo Ancelotti's side, who are in action at Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson's options at the back have been limited throughout the campaign, with Dutch goalkeeper Van der Sar and defenders Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Rafael and Gary Neville all enduring stints on the sidelines.

Ferdinand is still suspended and O'Shea is likely to miss the rest of the campaign with a thigh problem.

But even if Vidic does not return from a calf injury at Villa Park, United have finally been able to benefit from having increased options at the back.

Key to that has been the return of Van der Sar, who has missed months of the campaign as a result of his finger and knee injuries and the ill-health of his wife, who suffered a brain haemorrhage in December.

Ferguson's side travel to Villa Park looking for a fifth straight Premier League win for just the second time this season.

Van der Sar said: "We're right up there with Chelsea, just a few points behind, so the last three months of the season are shaping up to be very interesting.

"It's all to play for. There are a lot of big games in a short period, with the Champions League also starting up again soon.

"Luckily we have most of our players back. We're still missing three or four but it's better than the 11 or 12 missing earlier in the season and over Christmas. "

Although Martin O'Neill's side are chasing a place in the Champions League and won 1-0 at Old Trafford in December, United will be boosted by their impressive record at Villa Park.

Ferguson's team were held to a goalless draw there last season, but are unbeaten there in the league since losing 3-1 on the opening day of the season in 1995.

Villa, without Stephen Warnock and Nigel Reo-Coker through injury, go into the game on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run and they have kept three consecutive clean sheets.