United rocked by Neville blow

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been ruled out of action for a minimum of six weeks after undergoing groin surgery.

Neville’s absence leaves a huge hole in the United squad already lacking skipper Roy Keane and Argentina full-back Gabriel Heinze for extended periods.

Wes Brown and Quinton Fortune are also out, so John O’Shea and Kieran Richardson will occupy the full-back roles tomorrow against Blackburn.

Squad: Van der Sar, Howard, O’Shea, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Pique, Richardson, Fletcher, Scholes, Smith, Miller, Ronaldo, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Rossi.