UK Edition
Man Utd midfielder Marouane Fellaini could face surgery and two months out after aggravating knee injury
Marouane Fellaini fears he could face a lengthy lay-off after aggravating a long-standing knee problem. The United midfielder came on as a substitute for Paul Pogba in the second half of Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham but lasted just seven minutes before having to be withdrawn after succumbing to injury.
He was due to be scanned on Thursday to determine the full extent of the problem and a decision could be taken as early as Friday over whether the player requires surgery.
If Fellaini’s fears that he has suffered fresh damage to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee are confirmed and an operation is given the go-ahead, the Belgian could be out for around eight weeks.
Fellaini, 30, has been dogged by knee trouble since suffering third degree MCL damage that forced his substitution for Belgium against Bosnia-Herzegovina in early October.
He suffered complications upon his return to action for United at Chelsea a month later, and although he played through the pain barrier to feature against Newcastle, Basel and Brighton, the situation only worsened.
Fellaini was then absent for a further six weeks but he has played just 45 minutes of football since his latest comeback on Jan 5 and now faces the prospect of a longer lay-off.
United had considered the possibility of Fellaini undergoing an operation last month only to decide against it but a period of rest has not been enough to cure the problem.
Fellaini is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of the season but manager Jose Mourinho is desperate to keep the midfielder and hopes he can be persuaded to sign a new deal.
Mourinho’s midfield options have been boosted by the recent return of Michael Carrick but Pogba and Nemanja Matic are both struggling for form and Ander Herrera no longer commands a regular starting place. Pogba was substituted after 63 minutes against Spurs and has not scored for 14 matches dating back to Nov 18.
La Galaxy, meanwhile, are continuing to work on a deal to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the US. The Galaxy want to sign Ibrahimovic in time for the start of the regular MLS season on March 3, with the MLS transfer window opening next Wednesday.
The Swedish striker played just 187 minutes of football for United following his return from a seven-month lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury before deciding he was not in a good enough condition to compete.