It is official: Midfielder Michael Carrick is ruled out for up to six weeks according to sources at Manchester United FC. Carrick suffered a major injury blow to his right elbow causing it to fracture.

Carrick appeared to be fine shortly after the game, but the fracture was only revealed after x-rays was taken. Sir Alex Ferguson was left with a bit of a headache as who to play for the upcoming game against Wigan on Saturday as Owen Hargreaves has also been left out due a tendon problem. Hargreaves I suffering from tendonitis in his knee and had to receive injections, leaving him out for the next four weeks.

It is up to the veteran, Paul Scholes to step up to the plate for the next month as the only recognized central midfielder left to Sir Alex Ferguson. Darren Fletcher is also out of the action due to a knee injury.

At first glance it appears as a great setback, but after closer investigation it is not the case as there is a two week international break with free midweek at the end of October, maybe as a blessing, due to the loss to Coventry in the shock exit in the Carling Cup.

Carrick will probably not be in action until the 24th of November trip to Bolton, however Hargreaves could return for the key trip to Arsenal three weeks earlier. Sir Alex Ferguson will have to ring in the changes to his team for the next four games or at least when Hargreaves is ready. Another choice available to Sir Alex Ferguson is to put new boy Anderson in the central midfield, but a likelier choice will be John O’Shea, who himself is recovering from a knee injury.

I have always rated John O’Shea as a promising player, so let’s hope he gets some serious game time.

.What must be very concerning for Carrick is the fact that he will not be able to battle Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry for the England midfield spot alongside Gerrard.