Premier League - Berbatov to miss Villa clash

Eurosport - Fri, 21 Nov 12:53:00 2008

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss Saturday's Premier League match at Aston Villa with a hamstring injury.

Dimitar Berbatov - 0

The Bulgaria captain sustained the injury while on international duty in midweek and will also miss Tuesday's Champions League game at Villarreal.

And defender Wes Brown faces four or five weeks out of action after undergoing an exploratory operation on an ankle injury.

Berbatov was substituted after 30 minutes with cramp during Bulgaria's 6-1 defeat by neighbours Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday.

"It's not a tear. It's a slight strain but with hamstrings you don't take any chances. There's no point in making it worse," United boss Alex Ferguson said.

"He will certainly be out for tomorrow and he will be out for Tuesday but there's a slight chance he may be available for the City game."

United play derby rivals Manchester City on Sunday week but first face a testing fixture against a Villa side which Ferguson believes are capable of breaking the top-four stranglehold held by United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Wayne Rooney, who missed England's 2-1 friendly win over Germany on Wednesday after suffering a chest infection, is likely to be fit to offset the loss of Berbatov for the trip to Villa Park.

Rio Ferdinand may miss the game as he struggles to shake off a back injury which kept him out of the Berlin international.

United have won 11 times in 12 visits to Villa Park and Ferguson is keen to build on last Saturday's 5-0 win over Stoke City which lifted them to third in the table.

"We recognise Aston Villa as an improving side and I think (manager) Martin O'Neill has done a fantastic job so we expect a really difficult challenge," said Ferguson.

"We got five goals last week and goal difference could be an issue this year, you never know. This is why we have to push on and start taking our chances regularly because the football we are playing deserves more than we are getting at the moment."

Reuters

Comment 31 - 50 of 50

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  1. Cokrowinoto, you've eaten your words. Man united­ didnot make to score against aston villa. Berbatov is­ the great player of all! I bet they can't make it­ either to win in villareal on tuesday. Berbatov­ directs and creat goal. The only mistake he got is­ berbatov always passing ball to his team mate but often­ let down. Miss you berbatov!

    From Maria Teresa, on Sat 22 Nov 8:22PM

  2. Question:What's gonna do fan of Chelsea when his­ team win the Champions League.
    Answer:Turn of tha­ Playstation and go to bed.:P :)

    P.S.Berbatov RLZ.

    From ahp0468, on Fri 21 Nov 10:48PM

  3. roll on tevez

    From michaelashcroft, on Fri 21 Nov 8:17PM

  4. ye

    From tomdanjemhart, on Fri 21 Nov 5:27PM

  5. looking forward to a good game, next two match"s­ will play a big part in utds title challange (must­ win)but villa will be no push overs , even though villa­ park has been very very good to utd cup and league

    From anthony h, on Fri 21 Nov 5:15PM

  6. united dont have nothing to worry about as we have­ other players including welback,evans and other players­ that have come through the ranks

    From Paul T, on Fri 21 Nov 4:46PM

  7. WHY DO YOU RIP INTO MANCHESTER UNITED ?
    IT IS 'COS­ THE TEAMS YOU THINK YOU SUPPORT ARE NO GOOD ,SO YOU­ TEAR INTO A TREBLE WINNING CONSISTANT CLUB THAT WILL­ NOT GO AWAY = SAD PPL

    From PAUL L, on Fri 21 Nov 3:13PM

  8. those that call scum usually are...

    From stuartxland, on Fri 21 Nov 2:25PM

  9. berb has started to get into the swing of uniteds play­ and thats good, but miss him? ..i doubt it...tevez­ ,anderson, wellback, roons, ronaldo,carrick,...i think­ we have a squad to see of martin o'niels currently­ very shakey villa...!

    From stuartxland, on Fri 21 Nov 2:24PM

  10. MONKEYMAN YOU ARE IN NO POSITION TO CALL BERBATOV SCUM­ & THESE PPL LET YOU POST IT
    THAT IS RIDICULOUS YOU­ ARE SCUM YOU SAD HATE FILLED B1T&*

    From PAUL L, on Fri 21 Nov 2:21PM

  11. ..as the desperate crys for united to loose from the­ ignorant misguided morons that can't string a­ sentence together on this page continue, the only real­ debate is how many goals united will score against a­ shakey villa?...probably man u 4 villa 1,...get over­ yourselves!

    From stuartxland, on Fri 21 Nov 2:20PM

  12. the big one er, maybe not eh DO YOU DO ENGLISH , BUT­ YOU DO DOGGYS DONT YA

    From PAUL L, on Fri 21 Nov 2:15PM

  13. i hope he broke more than just a pubic hair

    From Phil, on Fri 21 Nov 2:03PM

  14. Noel.B. hope Villa win and you will hear the usual cry,­ A.F. the ref made bad decisions and that cost us.­ Imagine all the Man. U. players surrounding the poor­ old ref when something is given against them. GO GO­ VILLA

    From john b, on Fri 21 Nov 12:33PM

  15. James B :) Like i said give him more regular play and I­ reckon youre gona see Anderson become a top quality­ goal scoring midfielder, hes already got a mean strike­ on him, its just about time and experience. He'll­ come good.

    From Tom, on Fri 21 Nov 11:17AM

  16. Berbatov out is a blessing in disguise. Now SAF no­ longer need to find an excuse to leave him out.­ Berbatov has not been performing 100 percent to his­ so-called potential making him one of the most­ over-estimated player in the BPL. Blood in the younger­ players. Maybe just like the England squad they can­ show their seniors a thing or two about committment and­ dedication. Go MU.

    From cokrowinoto, on Fri 21 Nov 9:37AM

  17. I love all the people saying how 'in form'­ villa are! They have won one game after being beaten by­ newcastle and boro'! Sounds like a team in form to­ me! Right up there with chelsea and spurs in the form­ table! I am a villa fan and love the way things are­ going this year but I'm also not stupid! The key to­ us breaking the top four is consistancy, not one-off­ good results against the 'big four'! I would­ love villa to get a result against utd, but I'm not­ holding my breath - they have a habit of scoring four­ against us! They did it last year without berbatov!

    From Jay, on Fri 21 Nov 9:36AM

  18. tommihew........Anderson has goals in him........I must­ of missed them.......Please give information of his­ last 5 goals for united........

    From james b, on Fri 21 Nov 9:06AM

  19. love 2 c danny welbeck in action again...........

    From amh_rafaz, on Fri 21 Nov 9:03AM

  20. BOO.... MAN.U

    From Nathan, on Fri 21 Nov 8:30AM
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