The England full-back had been expected to return in time for the trip to Portsmouth next weekend, but Sir Alex Ferguson ruled that out on Friday.

He told Manchester United Radio: "The swelling has only just gone down on his ankle so the injury was maybe a bit worse than we thought in terms of the swelling.

"But he's been doing some good work in the gym and I expect him to be back in the first team in three weeks time."

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have however both been declared fit to return against Blackburn on Saturday.