Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia could be out of action for five months as he recovers from a foot injury, according to reports.
The Ecuador winger had surgery on his foot this week following an injury sustained in last month’s goalless Manchester derby.
United insist “no timescale has yet been placed on his return” after the 30-year-old tweeted pictures of his leg in bandages from hospital on Tuesday evening and said he “came out well from the operation”.
A report in the Sun claims he damaged the bone above his left foot and may have caused further damage by playing on against City and not leaving the pitch immediately.
Valencia has not played since and did not reveal any targets for his comeback when tweeting after his surgery. Valencia has been converted from a winger to a right back under Louis van Gaal, and his lengthy absence limits the United manager’s defensive options.