A clash against third place Tottenham Hotspur is one of the key games the in-form winger may be unavailable for.
Despite the 2-0 away win at Ajax, a result which would have gone down nicely in Basel in December, Sir Alex Ferguson looked beyond miserable in his post-match press conference.
Yes United hardly played flowing football, but on these European evenings it is the results which matter, but instead the occasion was soured for United by an injury to flying winger Antonio Valencia.
The Ecuador midfielder has been crucial to United over the last two months, featuring in our list of the top five most in-form Premier League players.
Ferguson confirmed last night he has injured his hamstring and expects it to mean four weeks out, although the injuries often take six weeks.
For United, if Valencia was going to get injured, in truth this is not the worst time to do it.
Far worse would have been in December, with the packed festive schedule, when Ashley Young was out injured and Nani also struggling.
Now the pair are back, with Young netting the opener last night from a move Nani started.
United have a week off this weekend, thanks to their elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool, meaning Nani does not miss any games.
The United’s schedule is as follows:
Feb 23: At home to Ajax
Feb 26: Away to Norwich
March 4: Away to Spurs
March 10: At home to West Brom
March 18: Away to Wolves
March 26: At home to Fulham
He will be missed in the matches he is unavailable for, the standout game is the Tottenham game, but away trips to Norwich and Wolves will both be tough, with the club suffering defeats at both grounds on their last visits.
It could be that he is back for the Wolves game, but the home match with Fulham seems a more realistic target.
Last season it was Valencia’s return from a far more severe ankle injury which came at the end of March and was just the right time for United, adding impetus to their title charge.
They will hope for the same impact again.
Will United cope without Valencia or is it a blow which will cost them points?
image: © Magnus D
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