Carrick faces three-week absence

Carrick sustained the ankle injury in United's 1-1 draw with Newcastle

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick could be out for up to three weeks because of the ankle injury he sustained against Newcastle on Sunday.

"Michael suffered a bad blow to his ankle," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "It was pretty swollen. He will be out for two or three weeks."

Carrick, 27, has already pulled out of the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic.

He will also miss United's games with Portsmouth and Zenit St Petersburg.

United travel to Fratton Park in the Premier League on 25 August and take on the Russian side in Monaco in the European Super Cup on 29 August.

606: DEBATE Hopefully we can ride out these first few weeks with the reserves until players start coming back returnof50phead

Carrick, who limped off after 25 minutes of United's 1-1 draw with the Magpies, has been replaced in the England squad by Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas.

United hope he will be fit to return against Liverpool on 13 September.

Ferguson's side, who also lost Ryan Giggs to a hamstring injury during Sunday's game, while young striker Fraizer Campbell also picked up a knock, were already without a long list of players.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Park Ji-Sung and Owen Hargreaves are all injured, winger Nani is suspended, midfielder Anderson is on Olympic duty with Brazil and Carlos Tevez missed the game against Newcastle game after flying back to Argentina following a family bereavement.