Injury woes for Brown and Butt

Manchester United defender Wes Brown has suffered another injury nightmare after it was confirmed he ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligaments in Sunday’s 2-1 at Everton.

Brown twisted awkwardly in a first-half tussle with Wayne Rooney and had to be stretchered off, although he was able to take part in United’s Premier League trophy celebrations after the match.

It had been thought that Brown had suffered only a minor problem, however the news he had feared was diagnosed this afternoon, leaving the England international facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines in a career which has already seen him miss the entire 1999-2000 season with a cruciate ligament injury and also suffer a broken ankle in the opening game of the season just ended.

Meanwhile, Butt, who was expected to be in the England side for the Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia next month, will instead be forced to rest after suffering persistent problems with his right ankle.

“Following discussions with the England medical staff it is in Nicky’s best interests that he will have an injection into his ankle,” said a club statement. “He will be rested over the summer.”

Butt was an unused substitute at Goodison Park and is another United player who has suffered injury problems this season, being restricted to 22 starts after an outstanding World Cup campaign.