MICHAEL CARRICK has been rocked by a bitter injury
blow.
Manchester Uniteds England midfielder could be out for up to a
month after damaging ankle ligaments.
And that is a massive title setback for boss Alex Ferguson, whose
Premiership table-toppers have come under real pressure from rivals
Chelsea.
Injury-prone Carrick, 25, picked up the knock in last Sundays
shock 1-0 defeat at West Ham, which left United just two points
clear.
The Old Trafford medical team originally thought he would be fit in
time for todays crunch clash with Aston Villa.
But the Geordie will now undergo a series of scans at their
Carrington training HQ to determine the full extent of the
damage.
Ironically, the problem could provide the perfect bargaining chip
for Fergie to persuade the board to make a move for Bayern Munich
midfielder Owen Hargreaves, 25, in the transfer window.
The Germans are prepared to listen to offers for the England ace
but not until the summer.
A United insider said: Carricks injury is a real blow for the lad
and United.
He was starting to feel very comfortable and is just praying the
early prognosis isnt as bad as the medical staff fear.
