Manchester United's treble hopes have been dealt another blow after Mikael Silvestre was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

The French defender dislocated his shoulder in the final stages of last week's Champions League win over Lille but Sir Alex Ferguson claimed last week that the former Inter Milan player would not be sidelined for too long.

With Chelsea's Khaled Boulahrouz as a guide, there was even some suggestion Silvestre would be back in action before United tackled AS Roma on April 4th.

However, United officials have now confirmed the injury is far worse than initially feared.

"Mikael's right shoulder required surgery to stabilise the joint," said a United spokesman. "He will be back in training in three months."

Although Silvestre was not a regular starter for United this term, mustering just 21 appearances, the 29-year-old is a particularly useful member of Ferguson's squad given his ability to play both in central defence and left-back.

At a time when injuries have decimated the Red Devils strikeforce, with both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha out until the end of the month and Henrik Larsson heading back to Sweden after last night's charity game at Old Trafford, suddenly Ferguson's defence is being attacked as well.

First choice central defensive pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were both ruled out of the carnival game against Marcello Lippi's European XI, which United won 4-3.

Happily for the United boss, neither Ferdinand, who had scans on a rib problem, nor Vidic, who needed to have blood drained from his nose, are a doubt for Saturday's home encounter with Bolton.

However, veteran keeper Edwin van der Sar will miss the Trotters clash and Monday's FA Cup quarter-final replay with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford after suffering a calf strain during his warm-up at the Riverside.