United rocked by double injury blow

MANCHESTER UNITED’S rollercoaster season is in danger of being thrown off the rails completely by an acute midfield injury crisis that has decimated Alex Ferguson’s squad.

Within the space of four hours, Old Trafford officials confirmed the loss of Paul Scholes for the remainder of the season with an eye problem and John O'Shea for up to six weeks with fractured ribs.

As Alan Smith is unlikely to be fit to face Blackburn in tonight's Carling Cup semi-final either, Alex Ferguson is now facing the unhappy prospect of being forced to gamble on Ryan Giggs as his midfield general, as he did in the win over Liverpool on Sunday.