So now we know why Nemanja Vidic did not play against Liverpool at the weekend, as the Manchester United captain he has been ruled out for two months after undergoing an operation today on his right knee.
The defender complained of stiffness in the knee ahead of the Liverpool game and further examination obviously revealed a problem with his meniscus.
Vidic will miss Premier League games against Tottenham, Stoke, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Norwich as well as Champions League matches against Cluj, Braga and Galatasaray.
This is a huge blow for United because with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling also injured, it means Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are United’s only established fit centre-backs. And Ferdinand, who spent most of the Liverpool game limping around, cannot play three games in seven days, which with the Champions League campaign in full force, is the United’s schedule for the next couple of weeks.
Vidic missed most of last season with an injury to the same knee and his latest injury will give Sir Alex Ferguson some selection concerns. Does he drop Michael Carrick in central defense or does he move Patrice Evra over from left back?
A United spokeswoman is quoted in the Mirror saying:
“Nemanja Vidic has had a meniscus operation on his right knee and will be out for around eight weeks
“Sir Alex, as a precautionary measure, rested Vidic at the weekend, after he complained of tightness in his knee.
“However, further medical investigation revealed the underlying problem.
“The central defender was operated on this week and will be side-lined for about eight weeks.”