Butt faces surgery lay-off
Saturday, October 26, 2002
Article summary
Manchester United FC midfield player Nicky Butt is to undergo surgery on an ankle injury on Tuesday.
Article body
Manchester United FC midfield player Nicky Butt is to undergo surgery on Tuesday in an attempt to cure an ankle injury that has forced him to miss his team's last three games.
Unhappy news
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the news after his side's 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa FC on Saturday. "Nicky Butt is going to have an operation on Tuesday morning," he said. "We tried to let his injury settle down but it has not settled. We sent him for a scan yesterday and the result is that he is going to have an operation."
Seventh operation
Butt picked up the injury playing in England's 2-2 EURO 2004™ qualifying draw against F.Y.R. Macedonia on 16 October. It is one of a series of injuries to leading players that have hit United's early season form. "That's our seventh operation this season, it's a lot," said Ferguson. United are currently eight points behind Premiership leaders Liverpool FC.
