• Premier League

Fergie cools Berbatov injury fears

ESPN staff
December 2, 2011
Dimitar Berbatov is suffering with an ankle injury © Getty Images
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has played down the severity of the injury sustained by Dimitar Berbatov during the Carling Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in midweek.

Striker Berbatov was withdrawn at half-time against the Eagles with an ankle problem and, although he will miss this weekend's match at Aston Villa, he is not expected to be out for a substantial period.

"Berbatov's injury isn't serious," Ferguson said. "He got injured the week before. We've been getting a few injuries but it happens. At the moment, we're going through a spell where we're getting a few a week but we have to get on with it."

Defenders Fabio and Rafael da Silva were also substituted against Palace having picked up knocks, and they too will miss the trip to Villa Park. They join Michael Owen, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Anderson on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has expressed sympathy for former United captain Steve Bruce, who was dismissed as Sunderland manager earlier this week.

"Being a Geordie didn't help him, they're so passionate and committed to their football team," he said. "I think Steve has suffered because of that, and [Aston Villa boss] Alex [McLeish] being a former manager of Birmingham City doesn't help him either. That's the sort of supporters we've got nowadays: no patience.

"[Bruce] built a whole team and it requires a bit of patience from everyone, including Steve. They lost a few players this summer: [Jordan] Henderson, [Asamoah] Gyan, Anton Ferdinand. Losing to Newcastle earlier in the season didn't help him either, because of the way they are in that part of the world."

Martin O'Neill has been installed as the bookmakers' favourite to replace Bruce, and Ferguson has tipped the Ulsterman to be a success at the Stadium of Light. "He's got a very good track record, the job he did at Celtic was excellent, he won the League Cup at Leicester so I'm sure he'll do well," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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