Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is to miss the start of the Premier League season because of an ankle injury, the club have confirmed.
Carrick picked up the problem during United's 7-1 defeat of an Airtricity League of Ireland side on Wednesday.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the 29-year-old will be out for "a couple of weeks" as a result.
"Michael hurt his ankle. It is nothing serious but he will miss the start of the season," Ferguson added.
The injury means Carrick will be unavailable for Sunday's Community Shield contest with Chelsea and United's Premier League opener with Newcastle on 16 August.
Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen will get 45 minutes each against Chelsea but admitted a few senior players would miss the season's curtain-raiser because of injury.
"Gabriel Obertan still has the ankle injury he picked up in the United States. It will be a few weeks before Rio Ferdinand is back amongst us and Owen Hargreaves is still in the United States," said Ferguson.
"Anderson is making good progress from his knee injury and he could be back training in two or three weeks."
'Evra won't play for a while. He's averaged 55 games a season since he's been here'
Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva are also doubtful after suffering a bout of food poisoning.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mBoss: Cleverley must stay
Cleverley impressed on loan last season with Watford and, although he has been considered to have a promising future at Old Trafford, Sir Alex was at one point mulling over sending him on loan to a Premier League club.
But Cleverley, who turns 21 next week, did himself a lot of favours with his performances on the summer tour across North America.
“He is an exceptional young player in terms of his ability to play a variety of positions,” Sir Alex said on Friday. “He is such a talent, we must keep him.
“He showed at Watford that he’s a goalscorer from midfield and we need that. He has outstanding qualities.”
The manager’s words are a major boost for Tom, whose burgeoning young career is really starting to take shape at Old Trafford.
www.manutd.com/default.sps
Ferguson agrees to double loan
According to Sky Sports News, Sir Alex Ferguson will sanction the loaning out of both Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf as he looks to slim down his ManchesterUnited squad ahead of the new season. Tom Cleverley, however, will remain at Old Trafford and fight for a first team place as excitement grows about the midfielder’s potential.
Welbeck and Diouf both made appearances for United in the Carling Cup but found Premier League opportunities few and far between. Manchester United will allow Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf to go out on loan this season. Welbeck is tipped to join Sunderland and Blackburn are keen on Diouf.
www.skysports.com/football/transfer_cloc
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