London: Manchester United announced on Friday that last season’s leading scorer, Robin van Persie, will be out for up to six weeks with a sprained knee.
The Dutch striker, 30, sustained the injury in the latter stages of United’s 3-0 win at home to Olympiakos in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday, in which he scored all of his side’s goals.
“Following further investigation, Robin van Persie has a sprained knee, which will keep him out for around four to six weeks,” United said in a statement on their official Twitter account.
The news rules van Persie out of both legs of United’s Champions League quarterfinal against holders Bayern Munich next month and means that he may struggle to return to fitness before the end of the season.
Moyes had, after the match on Wednesday, played down the extent of the injury, saying it was “hopefully not too bad”, but that hope was crushed on Friday.
Although domestic travails make United unlikely candidates to win the tournament, Moyes said that they could go all the way, although without van Persie, that may also turn out to be a false hope. (AP)