Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an eye problem. Scholes, 30, has been suffering from double vision in his right eye since sustaining a blow to the head in the match at Birmingham on 28 December.
A spokesman on MUTV said:
“Paul Scholes has a medical condition affecting the vision in his right eye. It is not a football related injury. A number of specialists have all agreed that he needs three months’ rest.”
Scholes, who signed a new four-year contract last summer, scored the last of his three goals this season in the 3-0 win over West Brom on Boxing Day. The news could force manager Sir Alex Ferguson into the transfer market earlier than he intended. Ferguson had already said he would be looking to find a replacement for Roy Keane in the summer, but the loss of their most senior midfielder will be a big blow to United.
With Alan Smith currently sidelined with an ankle injury, they had to resort to a makeshift partnership of Ryan Giggs and John O’Shea against Liverpool on Sunday. And even the future of that combination could be in doubt after O’Shea had to come off at half-time with a rib injury required an X-ray. Ji-Sung Park is still inexplicably injured after his warm-up accident against Burton Albion in the FA Cup- which just furthers MU’s problems as Park would be the ideal player in this situation- being so versatile- able to play as a striker, winger or central midfielder.
If O’Shea is out tonight for the 2nd leg of the League Cup semi-final game against Blackburn, Louis Saha could join Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney in a three-pronged attack, while Nemanja Vidic could also make his debut. It’s a game MU will be desperate to win- especially after Wigan’s surprise beating of Arsenal, as this now represents Man United’s best chance of a piece of silverware this season.
But it does look like SAF will have to go back into the transfer market given the midfield situation at MU…..