By Chris O'Brien
August 27 2004

Roy Keane has been ruled out for the next three weeks of action with cracked ribs. The injury to the United skipper is another savage blow to Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United camp.

Manchester United have been hit with another savage injury with the news that Roy Keane will be sidelined for around three weeks with two cracked ribs.

Keane suffered the injury during the 1-0 reverse at the hands of title challengers Chelsea, but worked through the pain barrier to play as an emergency centre-half against Norwich City. However, the physiotherapist team at Old Trafford feel he could be in risk of doing more permanent damage so he will spend a frustrating few weeks in the treatment room.

"It's a bit of a blow. He could have been seriously injured if he had played on with cracked ribs, because it can puncture a lung - he has been playing with a bit of pain," Sir Alex Ferguson revealed.

"It became too much after Saturday. He has been really feeling it and hasn't trained since Saturday. He will be out for three weeks which is a blow."

Indications suggest Keane will return for derby-day on September 20th, when Liverpool make the journey from Merseyside to Old Trafford. That is also the fixture which could see Rio Ferdinand make his comeback after an 8-month suspension following a missed drugs test.