Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa is facing an extended spell on the sidelines, after manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the Japanese international could be out for another three-four weeks.
Kagawa has been missing since picking up a knee injury in the Champions League game against Braga last month, with Ferguson then saying the 23-year-old would be out for around four weeks.
However, that prognosis has doubled, with Ferguson admitting Kagawa was not quite making progress as expected. "His progress has been quite slow actually," Ferguson said. "He hasn't started any outside work and, looking now, he may be another four weeks away, which is disappointing.
"Originally we thought three or four weeks -- now it looks like seven or eight weeks."
The news will come as a huge blow to Kagawa, who had made a bright start to his career at United, immediately making an impact, and also scoring two goals in eight appearances.
Owing to United's prowess and options up front, the Japanese might find it difficult to find a way back into the starting XI, when he does return from injury.
However, there is some good news on the injury front for United, with Phil Jones set to make his debut this season. The England international has not played any part ion United's campaign this season, but has been named in the team's 21-man squad to face Galatasaray in the Champions League.
United have already ensured progress into the knockout rounds, meaning Ferguson can rest some of his senior players. It also gives Jones an opportunity to find his way back into the squad after an extended spell on the sidelines.
"It's a big day for Phil Jones," Ferguson told reporters. "He's been out all season but he's done enough training now to make sure his fitness is okay. I'm looking forward to bringing him back.
"Phil's had different types of injuries (in his United career so far). He had a concussion, he had a rib injury... but he's young so he's still to develop physically in terms of his body.
"He's only 20 years of age so there's plenty of time for him.
"We don't consider the young players a gamble," Ferguson added. "What we do consider is our reputation and we have to be fair to the other teams in the group.
"When we discussed the team for tomorrow we had to give serious consideration to how the media and the public would react, so we had to think hard about the team we picked."
