Shevchenko hoping to make return leg

AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko is hopeful he could face Manchester United in the Champions League in two weeks’ time.

The Ukrainian international misses tonight’s last-16 first leg at Old Trafford after fracturing his cheekbone in the Serie A victory over Cagliari at the weekend.

The European player of the year, who underwent an operation to reconstruct part of his face on Monday, has been told he will be out for three weeks but he is determined to defy medical advice and face United in the return leg at the San Siro on March 8.

“I will do my best to recover as fast as possible,” he said. “I have suffered four or five fractured bones but this is much worse than anything I have experienced in the past.”

Shevchenko, who was injured after a heavy challenge from Simone Loria, was simply relieved the problem was not more serious.

“I don’t think there has ever been a footballer that has suffered such a facial injury and I hope no-one has to go through this,” he said. “I can only see with one eye at the moment as the other side of my face is completely swollen.”