Manchester United's England defender Wes Brown has been ruled out for three months after a scan showed he had fractured his right ankle during the club's shock Champions League qualifier defeat against Hungarian side Zalaergeszegi.
|  |
Brown: Fractured ankle
(NealSimpson/Empics) |
Brown fell following a challenge with Igor Budisa early in the game, and manager Alex Ferguson admitted after the game that he was expecting bad news.
The defender had been pencilled in to replace injured Gary Neville at right-back, and now Ferguson faces a major selection headache as he prepares to take on Premiership newcomers West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The news is another major setback for Brown, who missed the entire 1999-2000 season after suffering a serious knee injury.
He had been hoping to force his way back into international contention with a solid start to this campaign, but now faces a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
Club record signing Rio Ferdinand and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez are also likely to miss the game against the Baggies, and the club's defensive casualties mean that Phil Neville is likely to be handed a first-team run.
- NEWS
