Neville breaks bone

Neville broke his foot in this tackle on Ze Roberto

Manchester United right-back Gary Neville's World Cup could be in doubt after he broke a bone in his foot.

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The England defender was stretchered off in the 18th minute of United's Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

He was taken to hospital where it was confirmed he had broken a metatarsal - similar to the injury suffered by England and United team-mate David Beckham.

He could be out of action for up to eight weeks.

Neville was injured tackling Ze Roberto and was replaced after just 17 minutes by his younger brother Phil.

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United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Unfortunately he's got a broken metatarsal believe it or not, the same as David.

"It's unbelievable, absolutely incredible."

David Beckham also broke a metatarsal

In United's last Champions League match, Beckham broke a bone in his foot after a challenge by Deportivo La Coruna's Pedro Duscher.

England captain Beckham - one of Neville's closest friends - faces a race to be fit for the first game of the World Cup campaign against Sweden on 2 June.

And if Neville's injury turns out to be as bad as Beckham's it could be a major headache for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, as the defender was a certain starter.

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Eriksson, who has had a stressful week after news of an affair with Ulrika Jonsson was leaked, was not at the United game.

He was instead at Highbury with his girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio, watching Arsenal take on West Ham.