United blow as Keane faces knee operation

Talismanic captain could be out for three months as Manchester United secure Champions' League place but injury crisis mounts

Manchester United's relief at securing their place in the Champions' League will be tempered today by the revelation that Roy Keane, their talismanic captain, is facing a knee operation that could keep him out of football for three months. The news is a major blow for Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team qualified for the Champions' League thanks to last night's emphatic victory over Zalaegerszeg at Old Trafford.

Keane has been feeling the effects of a long-term knee problem that requires clean-up surgery. The Republic of Ireland international has known of the need for this work to be done, but has liaised with Ferguson over the timing. United's manager did not want to be without his captain until he had cleared the hurdle to the security of a place in the Champions' League. Keane, playing with typical commitment to the United cause, has soldiered on through the pain, but is now likely to have the operation, sooner rather than later. An operation now would enable him to return to action for United from December onwards as they chase glory at home and abroad.

Ferguson last night denied any immediate plans to put Keane under the knife, but added: "I don't know if there is a problem down the line... maybe."

Surgery would end what has been a traumatic summer for Keane. The midfielder suffered the latest in a series of knee injuries in the European Cup quarter-final away to La Coruña at the beginning of April. Although he returned as a substitute for the last eight minutes of the semi-final defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, he was clearly a long way from full fitness and there were doubts whether he would be fit to play in the World Cup. In the end Keane's World Cup hopes were ended when his manager, Mick McCarthy, sent him home before the competition began after a major confrontation at the Republic of Ireland's training camp.

Having dominated the headlines in the build-up to the World Cup, Keane found himself at the centre of controversy in the countdown to the new Premiership season with the revelation of some of the contents of his forthcoming autobiography. In the book Keane is said to reveal that his infamous tackle on Manchester City's Alf Inge Haaland during a match at Old Trafford in April 2001 had been deliberate and part of a feud with the Norwegian. Haaland was the man involved when Keane ruptured his cruciate ligament at Elland Road three years earlier.

Keane missed games because of injury throughout last season and many thought he would take the chance of having surgery during the summer. He chose to rest the knee instead, but when he came back for pre-season training the pain returned. Keane has shown the odd sign of discomfort in recent games and had a poor match by his standards in the first leg against Zalaegerszeg a fortnight ago, but his drive and determination have masked the injury for much of the time.

However, the club's specialists have advised that an operation is the only cure. The latest surgery will be minor by comparison with the operation that followed his cruciate ligament operation, which kept him out of action for a season, but it is vital to his long-term fitness.

Keane's absence would be a severe blow to United who also have defender Wes Brown and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez as long-term injuries. In addition, Paul Scholes was taken off on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury in the second half at Old Trafford last night and will be out for two weeks.

As his injury list grows, Ferguson will be hoping that his team will be given a comparatively easy draw for the first phase of the Champions' League tomorrow.

It emerged yesterday that Keane was interviewed by police over his tackle on Haaland shortly after it happened. Manchester Police revealed that a number of people complained to them after his challenge on the Norwegian. The Irishman's tackle was recorded as an alleged crime and Keane and Haaland were interviewed. It was decided there was not enough evidence to prosecute the United captain. The police yesterday promised to re-examine the evidence after Keane's autobiography is published.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We can confirm that a small number of witnesses made complaints. As a result, the alleged assault was crime-recorded and all parties were interviewed. A file was forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service, who decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. Following the forthcoming publication of Roy Keane's autobiography, GMP will review the evidence available and consider if any further action is necessary."

Manchester City and Haaland are reported to be considering whether to pursue Keane over the incident, and he may also be charged by the Football Association for bringing the game into disrepute.