Manchester United’s injury crisis in midfield worsened as Marouane Fellaini is likely to be out of action for ‘a couple of weeks’ after the 29-year-old suffered damage to his Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL).
⚽ @Fellaini is out for a couple of weeks & #BELCYP. Scan ➡ left knee injury (MCL sprain). Get well soon Marouane ! #RoadtoRussia pic.twitter.com/jozfljXOCl
— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) October 8, 2017
Fellaini injured himself before the half-hour mark while on international duty for Belgium and was replaced by Leander Dendoncker as they went on to script a thrilling 4-3 victory over Bosnia in their penultimate World Cup qualifier.
The national side’s announcement could not have come at a worse time for United, as they are already without the services of star man Paul Pogba and veteran Michael Carrick.
Fellaini is expected to fly back to Manchester to begin his recovery but will surely miss out on Saturday’s clash with arch-rivals Liverpool.
Pogba has been termed a ‘long-term casualty’ by United manager Jose Mourinho and is expected to miss the entire month of October at least.
Carrick, who is yet to start a single game for the Premier League giants this season, is struggling with an unspecified injury and it would mean Nemanja Matic’s partner for the trip to Anfield would be Ander Herrera.
Despite being the the source of fans’ ire in the past, Fellaini has been in fine form for United since filling in for Pogba this season.
In seven appearances, of which four were from the bench, the gangly Belgian has scored four goals to play a crucial role in United’s surge to the top of the Premier League summit.
Manchester City lead United at the top of table, but only due to a marginally superior goal difference (+20 for City, +19 for United) and should United beat Liverpool on Saturday, the Red Devils will top the table, temporarily at least.