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

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  1. little fat rooney spends most of his time injured these days it must be trying to keep up with that stupid wife of his when shopping

    From RAY A, on Thu 20 Nov 9:12PM

  2. Please Man u can you lend rangers one of your many right backs

    From silky.jardine@..., on Thu 20 Nov 8:59PM

  3. Good luck dimi get well soon mate, still we`ve got tevez & rooney oh well tough on the other teams, lose 1 striker & we still have at least 2 others to back up.

    From NOEL B, on Thu 20 Nov 8:48PM

  4. i would like man u to be at full strength...cause when villa win....there will be no excuses!!

    From sean d, on Thu 20 Nov 8:16PM

  5. I will miss Berbatov. I like watching him play. Outstanding player. Get well soon Berbatov!

    From Maria Teresa, on Thu 20 Nov 7:44PM

  6. saha is finished...god,blind people...Berbatov and Tevez ar at the same level...i mean veery good,.....BUT...the best remain ROONEY and RONALDO....

    From Andrei S, on Thu 20 Nov 6:58PM

  7. and Manucho, yet to prove himself at Utd but look at what he is capable of on you tube.

    From simon-roberts@..., on Thu 20 Nov 6:51PM

  8. not better than Saha:)

    From Richie, on Thu 20 Nov 6:39PM

  9. gosh.... get well soon berba~~

    From PhinUnited, on Thu 20 Nov 6:23PM

  10. i think it will not be a problem though, as we have Wes Brown or Evans in Central Defence to cover and of ourse our very own Ronaldo can play upfront with Tevez, so where is the problem, with scholes around the corner, ferdinand and Rooney are just given rests and Berbatov too needs a rest as he has been playing most of the time. COME on Tevez show us what you got, here is your chance and we have Danny Welbeck as well who impressed...... Give him a go

    From Clement L, on Thu 20 Nov 6:15PM
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