Ferdinand to miss Milan matches

Defender Rio Ferdinand will miss both legs of Manchester United FC's UEFA Champions League semi-final tie against AC Milan after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury in Saturday's Premiership draw with Middlesbrough FC.

First-half injury
The English international centre-back first sustained the injury in the FA Cup semi-final victory against Watford FC last weekend and had to be substituted during half-time of his side's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Middlesbrough after aggravating the problem. "It should be two weeks," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed, whose side face Premiership title rivals Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on 9 May. "He definitely won't be available for Milan, but we expect to have him back for the Chelsea [FC] game." United, already without defenders Gary Neville (ankle), Nemanja Vidić (collarbone) and Mikaël Silvestre (shoulder), welcome Milan to Old Trafford this Tuesday and travel to Italy for the second leg on 2 May. "It's an injury crisis of major proportions," said Sir Alex.