Crocked: Michael Carrick has an achilles problem
Michael Carrick has been ruled out for three weeks with
an Achilles injury. The
Manchester
United midfielder had an injection
yesterday after informing Sir Alex Ferguson the long-standing
problem was starting to bother him once more.
'He should be out for three weeks, maybe a month at most,' said
Ferguson. But there was better news for Ferguson in the form of
Carrick's midfield colleague Anderson, who stepped up his own
return from injury with an appearance in United's reserves on
Thursday night.
The 22-year-old Brazil international is on his way back from a
cruciate knee ligament injury suffered during his side's Premier
League win over West Ham in February.
Back in action: Anderson lined up in a reserve
match against Stockport County
Anderson endured a disappointing season last term with
the midfielder blighted by poor form. But the sight of a proven
international-class footballer pushing for selection again will
surely cheer Ferguson as he contemplates nearly another month
without Carrick.
Carrick was an unused substitute during England's recent Euro
2012 double-header but has not started a game for United since the
Community Shield triumph over Chelsea at Wembley last month.
'He has had a problem with his achilles,' added Ferguson. 'It
has been bothering him for a few weeks now, so we sent him to a
specialist in London yesterday and he had an injection. We are
hoping that settles it down.
'We have been considering what we should do about it. The best
thing is to get it treated and out of the road now because everyone
in the squad is fit.'
It means Carrick will miss tomorrow's visit to Everton,
plus the home matches with Rangers and Liverpool that follow in a
busy week.
However, Ferguson will have Rio Ferdinand available for the
first time this season after the defender made a quicker than
expected recovery from the knee injury he suffered on the first day
of World Cup training in South Africa.
'Rio Ferdinand could have played for the reserves against
Stockport last night,' said Ferguson. 'He wanted to play but his
training performances are so good I didn't see any point. He is in
the squad. With three games this week, it is good that he is back
in the fold.'
Anderson is unlikely to be involved tomorrow after picking up a
slight knock on reserve team duty last night, although Ferguson
does not believe the injury is too serious.
'Anderson came off with a little niggle yesterday but it is
nothing serious,' said the United chief. 'It is just the fact he
has been out for a long time and he is just coming back. I don't
think it will knock him back any length of time.'