Valencia will miss 'good portion' of season as ankle heals

MANCHESTER // Antonio Valencia will be out for "a good portion" of the season, Manchester United confirmed yesterday. Valencia had an operation on Wednesday night to reset the ankle he fractured in the Champions League encounter with Glasgow Rangers at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The club's medical staff have assessed the Ecuador wide man and confirmed Valencia has also suffered ligament damage.

"The operation went well, a plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obviously significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation," read a statement from United. "He will be out for a good portion of the season." In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, ruled Valencia out of the remainder of the campaign. The statement also denied claims attributed to the Ecuador team doctor about Valencia's mental state and insisted the former Wigan winger was feeling positive about his recovery.

"Contrary to recent reports, there has been no official contact from the Ecuadorian national team," read the statement. "Antonio is perfectly fine, very positive and very determined." There is a possibility that Valencia could back in action by April, although by that stage in the season Ferguson might not want to be pushing the winger anyway. * Press Association Grab your weekend pass to the Manchester United-Liverpool game