Republic Of Ireland international Stephen McPhail could be out for the rest of the season after it was revealed he may require surgery on an Achilles injury. The Leeds United midfielder looks likely to be added to David O'Leary's long-term injury list, with the manager hinting that the treatment McPhail received at the club may not have been of the required standard.
Having already undergone an intensive course of treatment to his right Achilles this season, McPhail flew out to Munich on Sunday for specialist treatment in the hope of curing a problem with the left Achilles.
O'Leary said: "If all goes well then he will be out for a few months at least. If it doesn't then he will have to have surgery and he'll miss the rest of the season. We could have handled the Harry Kewell (also Achilles) and Stephen McPhail injuries a lot better from a medical point of view.
"Achilles tendon injuries are the worst you can have . . . if you don't get on top of them at the start then they can go on to be a right nuisance. We didn't get on top of them at the start with these two players, and so they have become a problem."
Meanwhile, Manchester United have tried to allay fears that a possible kit contract with Nike could breach their new club charter. United are reportedly negotiating with Nike, and Shareholders United are alarmed by the allegations of child labour levelled at the American sportswear giant.
United have consistently refused to comment on the reports that they are talking to Nike, and insist they are committed to seeing out the remaining 20 months of their current agreement with Umbro.
Group marketing director Peter Draper claims the club would not do anything which would breach their charter.
"First of all we have not got a deal with Nike," he said. "Our stance on this is that we work with people to ensure that their practices comply with what we expect to be reasonable. In that respect we do not envisage anything breaching our charter."
Shareholders United may take more convincing and they are worried by the various allegations made against Nike. In a letter to United chief executive Pater Kenyon, vice-chairman Michael Crick says: "Article 1.6 of the new club charter says `Manchester United plc opposes the exploitation of child labour. There have been serious allegations over the years about Nike's use of child labour, most recently in a Panorama programme earlier this month. Shareholders United urge that United should not conclude any deal with Nike until you are satisfied that they are clean."
