Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia will miss “a good portion” of the season after being injured in Tuesday’s Champions League game against Rangers.
The winger suffered ligament damage, plus a fractured ankle and underwent surgery on Wednesday.
Despite claims from an Ecuador team doctor about Valencia’s poor mental state, United insisted the player remained optimistic.
“He is perfectly fine, positive and determined,” a United statement read.
The Premier League club revealed a plate had been inserted into Valencia’s ankle to stabilize the fracture, adding there was “obvious significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation”.
Following Tuesday’s match, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “It is a bad blow for the boy. It is similar to the injury Alan Smith got.
“He seemed to dig his toe into the turf and as soon as we saw the Rangers player waving we knew it was a bad one – and it’s turned into a bad one.”