Manchester United await results of Ryan Giggs' x-ray

Posted Thursday, February 11, 2010 by theguardian.com

Manchester United await results of Ryan Giggs' x-ray
Ryan Giggs receives treatment after a collision with Steve Sidwell.

Manchester United are anxiously awaiting the results of an x-ray after Ryan Giggs left Villa Park with his right arm in a sling at the end of an evening that also saw Sir Alex Ferguson suffer the blow of losing Nani for three domestic matches, including the Carling Cup final, after the Portuguese was sent off in the first half for a two-footed lunge on Stilian Petrov.

Giggs left the field in the 74th minute clutching his arm after a challenge with the Villa substitute Steve Sidwell and United will hope to ascertain the full extent of the damage this morning. With Nani facing an automatic three-match suspension for his reckless challenge, which Ferguson acknowledged was worthy of a straight red card, United can ill-afford to lose Giggs as well.

They will be particularly keen to have him available for Tuesday's Champions League game against Milan. "We have sent Ryan for an x-ray to see if there is any damage," said Ferguson. "It is very painful but hopefully he is going to be all right."

United's draw at Villa, which was secured after James Collins put through his own net to cancel out Carlos Cuellar's header four minutes earlier, allowed Ferguson's side to move within a point of Chelsea. The result, however, was overshadowed by Nani's dismissal and he will now miss the Premier League matches against Everton and West Ham United as well as the League Cup final against Villa.

The referee, Peter Walton, described the tackle as "rash" and Ferguson had no complaints. "It's a red card, he went in double-footed and he can't do that," said Ferguson. "It was a naïve tackle and the referee had no option. But Nani is not a malicious player. He has been doing so well for us and we'll now miss him for the Carling Cup final. He's also missing two league games which is just as important."

Despite being down to 10 men for more than hour United dominated possession and Martin O'Neill acknowledged Villa were disappointing as an attacking force. "In the second half we didn't create enough and make enough use of the extra man," said Villa's manager. "We were playing against a real quality side, who have been in that situation before, and were able to retain possession ... But if you'd asked me at the start of season would you take four points against United I'd have been pretty happy with that."

O'Neill was effusive in his praise for Wayne Rooney, who did not score but still troubled Villa. "Their centre-forward is one of the best in the world and playing at the top of his form," added the Villa manager. "His ability to control the ball under pressure is terrific, his movement is sensational. I hate to make this point but it is worth making: he's raced back to make the challenge on Ashley Young and made it like a full-back and that was with seven minutes left in the game."

Villa, however, have recorded only one victory in their last seven league matches and O'Neill admitted that in terms of the pursuit for fourth place Manchester City were the winners last night, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both losing. "Man City would have been delighted with the results. Considering their resources they would be strong contenders," he said, before adding that Petrov had not suffered serious damage to his ankle despite being unable to continue after Nani's tackle.