Manchester United defender Chris Smalling out for 10 weeks
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United's Chris Smalling is out for 10 weeks after undergoing surgery for a broken metatarsal.
Smalling, 22, missed the end of last season with a groin problem that ruled him out of Euro 2012 and the Olympics.
Although the defender was absent from United's pre-season tour, manager Sir Alex Ferguson had expected him to be fit for the start of the campaign.
"It is a bad blow for the boy. He is only 22, he is young. Hopefully he gets over it," said Ferguson.
The absence of Smalling, who was injured in training on Wednesday, puts further pressure on Ferguson's defensive resources ahead of United's first Premier League game at Everton on 20 August.
Jonny Evans is doubtful for start of the season with an ankle injury and captain Nemanja Vidic is working his way back to fitness after a serious knee problem.
Ferguson expects Vidic to be ready for the start of the campaign, with Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones his only other senior centre-back options.
Smalling, who was signed from Fulham in a £10m deal in 2010, made 14 Premier League starts last season.
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This appears in BBC Sport on Google ahead of Cricket, Golf, Cycling.
There are lots of other sports besides football (I am a keen suppoorter of my club) We are No 1 Test side, have Nos 1 & 2 in Golf (not doing too well today), have World cycle champ and about to win the TdF. Yet the website thinks an up and coming Man U player being injured is more important
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Ok you may be right about Modric. United may have been spoilt with players like Keane, Scholes and Robson. I just don't think Carrick is in the same league. There were times in the last two seasons where he needed telling that United were playing in red.
Smalling aka anderton for injuries
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I think you've made enough of them yourself. When was the last time he played well for Spurs against a good side?
Barry had a good season,I'd have him over the OAPs in scholes and giggs.anderson is another joke at the 17m-25m that gets quoted.
You're linked with people likes of Schneider but the truth is you can't compete!stick with bebe LOL or get veron back haha
Even as a Unitec fan, I see absolutely no reason for it, other the the children at the BBC web site are getting more and more desperate to fill their servers with pointless drivel.
http://clsoccer.com/manchester-united-summer-transfer-targets-july-2012/
In fact, as long as manure can keep Vidic and Shrek fit all season they may beat Citeh.
When selling your own website, you'd do better to link to the actual page that's on your site instead of the homepage. It's kind of pointless.
I just hope Fletcher gets back. We're massively missing him in the Scotland national team.