United midfielder Shinji Kagawa sidelined with knee injury

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa has been ruled out for three to four weeks by a knee injury.

The midfielder picked up the knock during Tuesday’s 3-2 comeback Champions League win over Braga at Old Trafford.

He will miss United’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday and their return match against Braga in Portugal.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed: “Kagawa is out for three to four weeks. Playing on Tuesday didn’t help. It is disappointing.”

Ferguson also revealed that defender Chris Smalling was back in training after recovering from a broken metatarsal.

“That is a big bonus for us,” he added.

Defender Phil Jones is also close to resuming training, having suffered a knee injury last month.

“Phil Jones should start [training] a week on Monday [5 November],” Ferguson said.

Ferguson revealed after Tuesday’s match against Braga that goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard will be out for a week with a thumb sustained injury in training.