Soccer: Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will be out of action for 10 weeks after suffering medial ligament damage in last night's Champions League win over Aalborg. Scholes was injured just 16 minutes into United's 3-0 win and it immediately became obvious that he could not continue.
Manager Alex Ferguson suggested after the game that Scholes would be missing for about eight weeks but after being assessed by club medical staff today, the damage is even worse.
Ferguson will wait for news on further injury news within his squad with England manager Fabio Capello also likely to take a keen interest in the Old Trafford medical bulletin. The update on internationally retired Scholes and Rafael Da Silva may only be of passing interest to Capello but on Wayne Rooney the Italian will have his fingers and toes crossed.
Ferguson reported Rooney feeling pain in his ankle one hour into his goal-scoring performance last night. The striker quickly left the field and Ferguson is almost certain to rest him for Saturday's encounter with Blackburn at Ewood Park.
"Wayne felt his ankle," confirmed Ferguson. "We hope it is not ligament trouble - but he is doubtful for Saturday, I would imagine."
Capello is due to name his squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Belarus on Sunday and will hope to have Rooney in it. If ligament damage is confirmed, Capello can forget it.
On a brighter note Ferguson has Cristiano Ronaldo at full throttle again after the Portugal winger finished the full match last night.
The winger did not mark the occasion with a goal, although he claimed a fine 'assist' for Dimitar Berbatov's second goal.
Ronaldo appears to have settled better after the summer turmoil and speculation over the prospective move to Real Madrid.
"I feel very comfortable now," said the 23-year-old. "I played my first game two weeks ago, and all the fans appreciated me.
"I feel very good within the club and very happy. I want to carry on like that."
-PA