MICHAEL CARRICK has been rocked by a bitter injury blow. Manchester UnitedÂ’s 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 SundayÂ’s 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 todayÂ’s 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: “Carrick’s injury is a real blow for the lad and United.
“He was starting to feel very comfortable and is just praying the early prognosis isn’t as bad as the medical staff fear.”
