United blow as RVP out for up to six weeks

The Premier League champions announced the bad news last night, with the Holland international cut down just two days after firing the club into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Van Persie’s hat-trick against Olympiacos had been viewed as a possible turning point in United’s poor season, but he was later carried off on a stretcher and may not play again until May.

He is almost certain to miss the Champions League last-eight tie with Bayern Munich, which he single-handedly set up.

Manager David Moyes had earlier suggested there could be bad news regarding the former Arsenal man: “We’re getting Robin re-scanned again today,” he said.

“We’re just not quite conclusive on everything we’ve seen yet. We want to just check that out and be sure.

He won’t be available for [today’s] game [against West Ham]. But we’ll try to give an update when we can.

“We’ve got a lot of games coming up and we need all our players fit and available.

Meanwhile Moyes admitted he has not been able to look Manchester United fans in the eye at times this year because he has been “ashamed” of some of their results.

Moyes enjoyed what he admitted was his best 90 minutes as United manager on Wednesday.

His reward – if it can be termed as such – is a last-eight clash against holders Bayern Munich.

Before he starts plotting how to beat Pep Guardiola’s team of superstars, Moyes must concentrate on a crucial four days ahead.

United visit West Ham today – without van Persie — before taking on Manchester City at Old Trafford on Tuesday. If United drop a point in either game, they will be guaranteed to end the season with their worst points total in Premier League history.

But, at least Moyes can go into the double-header with his head held high after Wednesday’s win.

“I think the big thing for me was that I could look at the supporters in the face after the game on Wednesday night because I thought we had given them something to shout about,” Moyes said.

“We had nothing to be ashamed of with our performance. In some other games I have felt ashamed because the team haven’t played well and I’ve not got a team out which has got a good result.”

The booming atmosphere inside Old Trafford on Wednesday was reminiscent of the many glorious nights enjoyed by Moyes’ predecessor during his 26-year reign.

But one thing which differentiated Alex Ferguson’s reign with Moyes’ is consistency. United went into the new year on the back of six consecutive wins, but they followed that up with three straight defeats.

It was a similar story in November when Moyes’ men won three on the bounce before going three weeks without a league win.

“I have been asked a similar question many times this season and I have always said we will build on it but on several occasions we have not been able to do that,” Moyes added.

“We need to make sure that we get a bit more consistency. It’s going to take time, we’re not going to be able to do everything immediately but my job over the coming years is to make sure that we get rid of [inconsistency].”

Antonio Valencia is a major doubt for today following a clash of heads with Joel Campbell.

“Antonio has a real bad eye which is closed over,” Moyes said.

“It is not quite settled down yet so we will need to keep an eye on it, if you’ll pardon the pun!”