Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is expected to be out for close to six weeks after fracturing his right elbow in the Old Trafford club’s 1-0 win over AS Roma in the Champions League. The ex West Ham and Tottenham star now joins fellow midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Darren Fletcher on the injury list, leaving veteran Paul Scholes as the only fit midfielder available for selection ahead of the game against the Latics on Saturday.
Carrick will miss the following games
Wigan- Home
Aston Villa- away
Middlesbrough- home
Dinamo Kiev- home and away ( CL games)
Arsenal – away
Blackburn – home
He will also miss the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia, as well as a friendly against Austria.
He is expected to return for the Bolton game on the 24th of November.
So whom do United play in central midfield ? The obvious choice looks like John O’Shea who did a pretty good job of it a season or two back. If not O’Shea, SAF may consider Anderson. Not too sure about Anderson and Scholes as a pair, especially when United are not leading by two or three goals and are up against strong opposition, say Arsenal for example. Spaniard Gerard Pique is another option, but he is unexperienced. He spent last season on loan at Zaragoza.