Valencia's operation hailed as a success
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Agony! Cruel break for Valencia as he faces a battle to play again this season after suffering a horrific ankle injury.
Stuck in the mud: Valencia faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines
Alarm call: players show their immediate concern as Valencia is flat out
Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia faces a battle to play again this season after suffering a horrific ankle injury during his team's Champions League stalemate with Rangers at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The Ecuador international was rushed to hospital wearing an oxygen mask after catching his studs in the turf and suffering a dislocated and fractured left ankle. Players could barely look as Valencia writhed in agony around the hour mark.
Ferguson said: 'It looks like a dislocation and fracture. That's a bad one. It will keep him out for a long time. He seemed to catch his toe in the turf and we knew straight away it was a bad one from the way the Rangers player started to wave.'
Valencia had only just returned to the side after recovering from a knee problem and faces a lengthy and arduous period of rehabilitation that will follow an operation scheduled in Manchester for today.
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Out of action: Sir Alex Ferguson says Antonio Valencia faces a lengthy period of rehabilitation after breaking his ankle against Rangers on TuesdayANTONIO VALENCIA is out for the season after dislocating and fracturing his left ankle as Manchester United made a dismal start to their Champions League campaign.
The Ecuador winger, 25, needed oxygen as he was carried off following an innocuous-looking challenge from Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot.
United boss Alex Ferguson said: "I'm afraid it looks really bad. He will be operated on and it's a bad blow.
"It is a similar injury to the one Alan Smith got when he was with us so we are looking at Valencia being out for the rest of the season.
"We knew it was bad when the Rangers players started waving over to the bench."
The injury was so serious that Sky Sports decided not to show a replay of the incident during the game.
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get well soon...
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Might Spur Fergie to get reinforcements during the Jan transfer window?
Valencia's gonna be out for a long while.
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i think this season united gg alr (sorry for sounding so pessimistic)
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the only way man utd can come back into EPL now is if rooney goes back to his last season form and nani steps up to become the next ronaldo. nani looking better this season.
otherwise, i see their defence so crap. maybe no ferdinand thats why. evra also poor
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get well soon
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SHOCK ... Kirk Broadfoot was left stunned by Antonio Valencia's horrific injuryRANGERS defender Kirk Broadfoot spoke of his horror after his tackle ended Antonio Valenica's season.
Manchester United winger Valencia was in agony when he was left crocked by Broadfoot's innocuous challenge in last night's Champions League clash.
The Ecudorian star suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle, ruling him out for a number of months.
Gers full-back Broadfoot said: "I'm not too sure what happened.
"I just slid in and looked round and his bone was sticking out.
"We tried to get the physio on to help him because you don't like to see that.
"These things happen and hopefully he makes a fast recovery. I've never seen anything like that so close before.
"You see things like that on television and it's not good but to see it there in front of you.
"It doesn't look nice and I just hope he recovers quickly."
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I think this Valencia is finish even after he recovers... Cos I can't recall any player going through this and coming back a better player. At best, he would be an average player from now on... Remember Alan Smiths, Eduardo, Cisse, Kieron Dyer... Eduardo and Dyer were becoming very good players but their injury more or less ended their chance of ever making it at the very top...
United should have bought Vdv afterall cos now they are short of one good winger...
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I'm not that worried actually. Nani was actually playing in Valencia's position and kept him out of the team. And United do have Obertan right? Maybe he deserves a chance to shine?
Traditionally, United do not begin the season in top gear, unlike Arsenal and Chelsea. But i'm pretty sure United will pick up pace as the season progresses as soon as the injured players get back and Rooney's personal life is sorted out. And didn't Berbatov and Nani stepped up this season?
However, i do believe there's a need for new Right-Back!
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i felt the pain myself after looking at the picture.
Take care!
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Heng not his right leg...
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Antonio Valencia's operation hailed as a success as Manchester United reveal crocked winger is in good spirits
Big worries: Wayne Rooney looks on as Antonio Valencia is treated on Tuesday night
Nightmare: Valencia suffered the double break after catching his studs in the turf
Antonio Valencia is 'very positive' after his ankle operation was hailed as a success.
The Manchester United winger dislocated and fractured his left ankle in a horrific moment in Tuesday's goalless draw with Rangers.
But the club are confident he will return after admitting he is likely to miss the rest of the season.
A United spokesperson said: 'The operation went well. A plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obvious significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation and he will be out for a good portion of the season.
'Contrary to recent reports there has been no official contact from the Ecuadorian national team. Antonio is perfectly fine, very positive and very determined.'
Sportsmail revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson was at Valencia’s hospital bedside by 9am on Wednesday to reassure the winger that he still has a future in football.
Although the Ecuador international faces a struggle to play again this season, Ferguson told him he will make a recovery.
A friend of Valencia told Sportsmail: ‘Antonio is devastated and finding it hard to come to terms with what has happened. But it cheered him up that Sir Alex came in to see him. He really appreciated that.’
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Ferguson ruled Valencia out of the remainder of the campaign and likened the injury to one suffered by Alan Smith in 2006.
When Smith suffered his injury in a freak incident against Liverpool at Anfield, he was ruled out for seven months, claiming afterwards that his eventual return came too soon.
Horror: Kirk Broadfoot can't bear to look after the incident at Old Trafford
A similar timescale would have Valencia back in action by April, although by that stage Ferguson might not want to be pushing the winger anyway.
After an impressive first season at Old Trafford, Valencia had been hoping to make further improvement.
Instead, he must battle to recover from such an awful setback, with Darren Fletcher among those who feel he will be back.
He said: 'He is a strong character and a good lad. He has real determination and works hard. He will be back I am sure. He will have a long future at Manchester United.'
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Smith: I know Valencia’s hell
ALAN SMITH'S career at Manchester United was wrecked by a horrific ankle injury.
And he shuddered in the stands on Tuesday night as Antonio Valencia was carried off after a tackle from Rangers' Kirk Broadfoot.
It seemed an innocuous challenge but the diagnosis for Valencia was a fracture and dislocation of his left ankle.
For Smith to be there as it happened was an astonishing coincidence.
Now at Newcastle, the midfielder rarely goes back to Old Trafford but had a late offer of a ticket from Toon No 2 Colin Calderwood.
And, when Valencia went down in agony, memories of his own awful fate 4½ years ago came flooding back.
Smith was out for eight months after dislocating an ankle and breaking a bone as he blocked a free-kick in an FA Cup tie at Liverpool.
But it was 18 months before he was properly fit again and he moved on to St James' Park.
United boss Alex Ferguson said at the time it was "one of the worst injuries I've ever seen".
And, as Valencia lay in hospital on Tuesday night, Fergie observed the Ecuador star's injury was similar to the one Smith suffered.
It marked the beginning of the end of Smith's United career - but he hopes Valencia can make a full and speedy recovery.
Smith, 29, said: "I can relate to what Antonio is going through.
"There's no getting away from the fact it is a hard road back from an injury like that but with determination, you can do it.
"It means weeks of doing virtually nothing then long days with the specialists, the physios and in the gym building your ankle up before you can even think about kicking a ball again.
"But the thought of being able to get back on the field is what keeps you going, no matter how far away that day may seem.
"Valencia is in good hands. United's medical team are excellent and always keep your spirits up.
"He will get so much support from the fans too. They were always sending me messages while I was out and I'm sure it will be the same for Antonio.
"I really felt for him and it brought back memories of my injury at Anfield.
"It's strange sometimes what causes serious injuries.
"Mine was caused by blocking a free-kick when there was no one near me.
"I just hope, like everyone in football, that Antonio can work his way through rehab and wish him all the best for a complete recovery."