Giggs blow as scans reveal Manchester United star has fractured his arm

11 February 2010 21:58
Manchester United's Champions League hopes have received a huge blow with the news that Ryan Giggs is likely to miss both legs of the last-16 tie against David Beckham's AC Milan after fracturing his arm at Aston Villa on Wednesday.[LNB] Giggs has been in inspired form this season and was a certainty to play against his old friend Beckham in Milan on Tuesday and again when the teams reconvene for what promises to be an emotional second leg at Old Trafford on March 10.[LNB] Pain game: Ryan Giggs is treated for his injury at Villa Park[LNB]Giggs will miss Manchester United games against Feb 16: AC Milan (a)[LNB]Feb 20: Everton (a) [LNB]Feb 23: West Ham (h) [LNB]Feb 28: Aston Villa [LNB]Mar 6: Wolves (a) [LNB]Mar 10: AC Milan (h) [LNB]Mar 14: Fulham (h) [LNB]But scans in Manchester yesterday revealed that the 36-year-old fractured his right arm in a challenge with Steve Sidwell in the second half of Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Villa Park in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB] Initial estimates are that Giggs will be out for four weeks, which means that he will miss both Milan games, the Carling Cup final against Villa at Wembley on February 28 and important league games against Everton, West Ham and Wolves.[LNB] United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will perhaps not worry too much about the Carling Cup final but with the Champions League about to restart and the champions now putting real pressure on rivals Chelsea, the injury could not have come at a worse time.[LNB] Despite his advanced years, Giggs has proved to be one of United's best players this season and has already agreed a deal to stay at Old Trafford until the summer of 2011 at least. With Portugal winger Nani also missing for three games after being sent off for a late challenge at Villa, the fall-out from what was an otherwise encouraging performance has been disappointing.[LNB] United do not play this weekend - having already been knocked out of the FA Cup by Leeds United - and travel to Milan early on Monday morning.[LNB] Although he will lament the loss of Giggs and Nani, Ferguson will have Rio Ferdinand back for the San Siro tussle and after suggesting Nemanja Vidic was nearing full fitness following a nerve problem last week, the Serb might also be available.[LNB] 'In terms of preparing for a European tie we are pleased to have a free weekend,' said Ferguson.[LNB] Action man: Giggs takes on Aston Villa's Fabian Delph[LNB]'AC Milan are playing on Friday night. That is the kind of help European teams get from their countries. We don't get that here.[LNB] 'By fortune we don't have a game on Saturday because we are out of the FA Cup and we are going to take full advantage of it. The players will have a couple of days off.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Giggs's team-mate Wayne Rooney is due to give evidence in court today as part of a legal battle with his business manager Paul Stretford's former company Proactive.[LNB] Rooney is being sued by the company for unpaid commission and is due to take the stand in Manchester after it was claimed in court yesterday that his first professional contract - signed when he was a 17-year-old at Everton - was worth almost £3million over three-and-ahalf years.[LNB] Ian Mills QC, representing the James Grant Group, who have subsequently taken over Proactive, said: 'If you add the £800,000 signing-on bonus together with all the wages paid between the beginning and end of the three-and-a-half-year term of the contract you come to a figure of £2,962.615.' [LNB] Giggs awaits X-ray results over fears star broke his arm in draw at Aston VillaMan United boss Sir Alex welcomes break ahead of crunch AC Milan clashAston Villa 1 Man Utd 1: Rooney can't work miracles after Nani horror showMANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail