Man Utd midfielder Carrick to miss start of season

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will miss the start of the season after suffering an ankle injury in a midweek friendly in Ireland.

Carrick sustained the problem during the first half of United’s 7-1 victory over an Irish League XI and boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed the 29-year-old England international will be out for two weeks.

That means former Tottenham star Carrick will miss United’s Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, England’s friendly against Hungary on August 11 and United’s opening Premier League fixture against Newcastle five days later.

“Michael hurt his ankle on Wednesday,” Ferguson said on Friday. “It is nothing serious but he will be out for a couple of weeks, so he will miss the start of the season.”