CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN is out for at least three months after leaving Old Trafford on crutches with ankle ligament damage.
And that could spark a last-minute emergency signing for Manchester United on transfer deadline day.
PAChristian Eriksen is out until May after being injured by Andy Carroll[/caption]
PAThe Danish midfielder was clearly in agony after the challenge[/caption]
TwitterEriksen was on crutches and in a protective boot[/caption]
Eriken limped off after Andy Carroll’s horror challenge in the FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday.
The Red Devils star was pictured leaving the ground with his foot in a protective boot.
Now the confirmed bad news of his lengthy injury lay-off will come as a bitter blow for Erik ten Hag.
The club confirmed Eriksen will be out for an “extended period” and it is understood he looks set to miss the majority of the remainder of the season.
The Danish international, 30, could be back in action by late April or early May but will be a big loss in United’s push for a top-four finish and in the Europa League.
Boss Ten Hag is already without Donny van de Beek for the rest of the campaign while Scott McTominay is also sidelined.
And that leaves just two senior central midfielders at Old Trafford – Casemiro and Fred.
The injury surely spells the end of any loan move for youngster Zidane Iqbal, who has been training with the first team.
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Kobbie Mainoo has also been involved in recent weeks, impressing in the final stages of the Reading win.
But it could prompt a deadline-day dip into the transfer market to add emergency cover in the middle of the park.
Ten Hag said: “Of course, he’s disappointed, we are disappointed, but it happens in top football.
“On deadline day it’s difficult you can’t have a policy based on such bad injuries.
“We have good players who can fill the gap.”
Ten Hag added: “I think you can never fill that gap because every player has his own characteristics, identification, another player will always fill in in a different way but it doesn’t mean you have to be less successful.
“It’s quite clear Christian Eriksen brings top quality to our squad and he has some specifics that are hard to replace, such as his impacts in the final third with his final ball.”
Carroll was blasted for a series of bad tackles during the cup clash.
The former Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle striker saw red for two yellows inside five minutes.
But the foul that caused the most damage, to Eriksen, went unpunished.