This will come as a significant blow to United's charge to the business end of the season, which could yet yield a treble.
United's 1-0 win over Crawley Town on Saturday saw them proceed through to the next round of the FA Cup, and with the Red Devils leading in the Premier League, as well as still involved in the UEFA Champions League, insiders of the club might be quietly optimistic in this year's team emulating the class of 1999 who completed the legendary treble.However, United, who went through the early part of the season without major health concerns, now reach the tail end with a mini injury crisis in midfield.
Antonio Valencia has been ruled since September last year, when an innocuous challenge by Glasgow Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot broke his ankle, while the perenially-injured Owen Hargreaves returned for his first game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the same month, only to limp off after five minutes.
Prior to this latest setback, energetic midfielder Park Ji Sung had only just returned from leading South Korea at the 2011 Asian Cup when he injured his hamstring in training, ruling him out for four weeks.
According to the Sun, Anderson left the club's training ground on Monday on crutches, and while United are hoping the 22-year old Brazilian international can avoid surgery, they are prepared to be without his services until mid-April.
