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Manchester United defender Chris Smalling out for 10 weeks
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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Comment number 86.
Nick23rd July 2012 - 17:01
Looks like luck is running out with debt now affecting on pitch and now injuries! Smalling is important as he doesn't fall into the senior / injury prone group (PC/ MC/RG/RF/MV). It was unwise for Ferg to add pressure of PL win prediction. Debt is £500B with further £500B paid in interest since Glazers took over. Fergs comments are more designed to encourage investors, than reflect reality.
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Comment number 85.
d-knvrs-fnk23rd July 2012 - 12:51
@83, yeah that's another way of looking at it :)
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Comment number 84.
mike derbyshire23rd July 2012 - 12:39
bigdunk1878 lol
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Comment number 83.
bored2323rd July 2012 - 12:14
@82 I think you mean, City suffocating the league with their ridiculas inflated valuations of players and wages ;)
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Comment number 82.
d-knvrs-fnk23rd July 2012 - 12:10
Pt.4
…the ball, without having to occupy a 'Carrick-like' role within the team. The sooner SAF realises this, the better - or else Utd may find that they go some seasons without another league trophy, as their noisy neighbours continue to make good use of the likes of Silva/Aguero/Toure (and the like) to suffocate the rest of the league with their more creative/technical abilities.
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Comments 5 of 86