Man Utd dealt blow as Vidic sidelined

AS Roma´s midfielder Alessandro Mancini of Brazil (C) escapes from Manchester United players Michael Carrick (R) and Nemanja Vidic. Manchester United have lost the services of Vidic for up to three weeks following the knee injury he suffered during Tuesday´s Champions League win over Roma.

      MANCHESTER (AFP) - Manchester United have lost the services of Serbian centreback Nemanja Vidic for up to three weeks following the knee injury he suffered during Tuesday's Champions League win over Roma.

      Vidic limped off after falling awkwardly in the Stadio Olimpico but a scan has assuaged fears of ligament damage.

      "There is no major damage to the left knee, and he will be out for two to three weeks," a club spokesman said on Thursday.

      Vidic has been a cornerstone of United's superb form this season, his centreback pairing with Rio Ferdinand helping to make their defence comfortably the meanest in the English Premier League.

      United will defend a 2-0 quarter-final first leg lead against Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday and the English champions are widely expected to advance to a semi-final meeting with Barcelona.

      Vidic should be back for the first leg of the semi at the end of the month but will miss Sunday's league trip to Middlesbrough, the Roma match and the April 13 clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

      The earliest he could return on the current prognosis for his recovery would be for a league match against Blackburn at Ewood Park on April 19.

      Vidic has proved to be one of the best signings of Sir Alex Ferguson's two decades at Old Trafford. His form since he arrived at United in January 2006 earned him a new deal at the end of last year and the 26-year-old is now under contract with the club until 2012.

      In his absence, Ferguson has the option of giving young Spanish defender Gerard Pique more first-team experience or switching Wes Brown, who has operated at right back for most of this season, into the centre alongside Ferdinand.