Manchester United defender out for 2 months with knee injury

Manchester United have been dealt another injury hammer blow after skipper Nemanja Vidic was ruled out for eight weeks following knee surgery.

It is a massive setback for Sir Alex Ferguson, who is already without injured duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Vidic, who missed the final five months of last season after rupturing his cruciate in the Champions League defeat to Basle, missed Sunday's Premier League win at Liverpool after complaining of tightness in his right knee.

However, a subsequent examination revealed a greater problem, prompting Vidic to be sent for an operation, which has now been completed.

'Nemanja Vidic has had a meniscus operation on his right knee and will be out for around eight weeks,' said a club spokesman.

'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 sidelined for about eight weeks.'

As the new injury is the same knee as Vidic ruptured his cruciate, it is bound to spark fears of another major problem for the 31-year-old.