Source: Team_Talk
Valencia back by end of Feb - Fergie
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Antonio Valencia could be back in action by the end of February.[LNB] The Red Devils winger was stretchered off on Tuesday during United's Champions League 0-0 draw with Rangers after suffering an horrific injury following an innocuous incident involving Kirk Broadfoot.[LNB]Initially, Ferguson said Valencia would miss the remainder of the campaign.[LNB]However, it now appears the damage is not quite as bad as the United boss feared.[LNB]"You can never be 100% accurate in these situations and it is a bad injury, but we are looking at the end of February, which is better than we thought on Tuesday," said the United boss.[LNB]Valencia had an operation on Wednesday evening to put his left ankle back into place after it was fractured and dislocated.[LNB]Ferguson revealed the Ecuador star had also suffered some ligament damage.[LNB]"The operation has been successful and the break was clean, which was the major concern for us at the time," he said.[LNB]"He is a strong boy, who is very positive about it.[LNB]"Being positive helps you in these situations, so we are very hopeful we will get him back then."[LNB]Ferguson, who has no other injury concerns ahead of Sunday's blockbuster duel with Liverpool at Old Trafford, accepts the loss of Valencia is a significant blow.[LNB]However, in Nani, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung, plus to a lesser extent Gabriel Obertan and new-boy Bebe, who made his reserve team debut last night, he feels United have the options to cope.[LNB]"Antonio had a great season last year," he said.[LNB]"He was a great signing for us. He is a young player who has been improving all the time.[LNB]"It is a blow losing good players but in the context of the kind of squad we have, we should be able to cope with it.[LNB]"You always fear when you have a good player out of your team it is going to be a loss.[LNB]"But having players like Nani, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung, plus Gabriel Obertan and Bebe means we have options."[LNB]What will benefit Valencia as he begins the long fight for fitness is a positive mindset.[LNB]That was never better exemplified than by Alan Smith, who suffered similar misfortune during an FA Cup tie at Liverpool in 2006, but whose mental toughness astounded even Ferguson.[LNB]"There is a mental part to it," he said.[LNB]"Take the example of Alan Smith. When Alan got his bad injury in that cup tie against Liverpool, he was so positive.[LNB]"He sat in that treatment room at Anfield so nonchalant and relaxed about it.[LNB]"Yet you look at his ankle and think 'God almighty'.[LNB]"That attitude definitely helped him."
