United sweat over Jones fitness

Manchester United have sent Phil Jones for a scan on his back as they struggle to determine the cause of his current injury problems.

The England defender has missed much of United's pre-season due to his back problem and was recently sent home from the club's tour of Norway in order to rest it. However, the former Blackburn man is still in some discomfort and looks set to miss United's first game of the season, against Everton on August 20. Sir Alex Ferguson looks set to be short of defensive options for the trip to Goodison Park with Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans struggling, while Nemanja Vidic has only just returned from a long lay-off after his cruciate ligament injury. In a bid to get to the bottom of Jones' problem, United have sent him for a scan on his back and hope to have a clear prognosis on the injury by the end of the week.