Valencia recovering after operation

Soccer: Manchester United have confirmed Antonio Valencia will be out for “a good portion” of the season

Soccer:Manchester United have confirmed Antonio Valencia will be out for "a good portion" of the season. Valencia last night had an operation on the ankle he fractured so horrifically in Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Rangers at Old Trafford.

United’s medical staff have assessed the Ecuador wide-man this morning and confirmed Valencia has also suffered ligament damage.

“The operation went well, a plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obviously significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation,” read a statement from United. “He will be out for a good portion of the season.”

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, United manager Alex Ferguson ruled Valencia out of the remainder of the campaign and likened the injury to one suffered by Alan Smith in 2006.