Foster ruled out for nine weeks

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has been sidelined for at least nine weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his thumb.

It means he will not be involved in the Champions League final against Barcelona on May 27 or the last league game at Hull on Sunday.

Foster, 26, has also been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Andorra on June 6 and 10.

“It is big blow for Ben as not only will he miss the Champions League final but also England’s summer internationals,” manager Alex Ferguson told www.manutd.com.

“Ben has tried to continue the season with this injury but it got so critical that an operation was the only way forward.

“It is disappointing for him but the important thing was to get this operation done.”

Foster has been desperately unlucky with injuries at United. After initially impressing in two loan stints with Watford he returned to undergo knee surgery.

He has made nine appearances for the United this season, including a match-winning performance in the penalty shoot-out victory against Tottenham in the Carling Cup final.