Fractured cheekbone sees Giggs sidelined for at least six weeks

RYAN GIGGS will be sidelined for at least six weeks after being forced to undergo surgery on a fractured cheekbone.

After an examination by Manchester United’s medical staff following Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Lille, it was decided the Wales skipper needed an operation on the injury he sustained in a second-half challenge with former Arsenal defender Stathis Tavlaridis.

It would rule the 31-year-old out of the vital encounter with league leaders Chelsea on November 6, plus the remainder of United’s Champions League group phase campaign.

Earlier this week, Ferguson admitted neither skipper Roy Keane nor utility man Quinton Fortune were anywhere near recovering from a broken foot and knee injury respectively.

Gabriel Heinze is unlikely to be fit until the latter stages of the season after rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments against Villarreal last month, while Gary Neville is two weeks away from a return after he damaged a groin in the European qualifying tie against Debrecen in August.

Kieran Richardson and Louis Saha are also currently absent, while Wes Brown, in the reserve side to face Middlesbrough tonight, is pencilled in for a Carling Cup comeback against Barnet on Wednesday.