Man Utd injury problems deepen as Carrick gets the elbow

[Lazie]

Man Utd injury problems deepen as Carrick gets the elbow

Manchester United have been left with veteran Paul Scholes as their only fit central midfielder after Michael Carrick joined Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher on the sidelines with a fractured elbow.

England international Carrick, 26, will be out for up to six weeks after suffering the injury in the latter stages of United's 1-0 Champions League win over Roma here on Tuesday.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed after that match that Hargreaves would not be available for another month after having an injection to treat tendinitis in his right knee.

Fletcher is still some way from a comeback following the knee injury he suffered playing for Scotland in France last month.

The loss of Carrick is not as serious as it might have been for Ferguson because his period of absence includes a two-week international break and a free midweek at the end of this month, caused by the Red Devils' early League Cup exit.

Ferguson is hoping Hargreaves will be ready for his side's trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal at the start of November.

In the meantime, Ferguson will have to decide between drafting defender John O'Shea or Ryan Giggs into central midfield or giving summer signing Anderson a run in the side.

Carrick's injury means he will miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia this month and he is almost certainly out of the friendly in Austria on November 16 and the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia five days later.

[Jangle]

Nothing to worry about. O'Shea as defensive mid with Giggs controlling the middle. He did us proudly already playing the position part of last season.

[Lazie]

Giggs? We'd still need someone to tackle in front of the defense. Oshea it has to be.

[Jangle]

Giggs? We'd still need someone to tackle in front of the defense. Oshea it has to be.

That's what I said. Fergie can blood Anderson by using him as a sub for Giggs.