The Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out for two weeks with an ankle injury.

Berbatov suffered the problem during his side's 2–0 Premier League defeat at Fulham two weeks ago and subsequently pulled out of Bulgaria's World Cup qualifying double-header against the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.

The news will come as a blow to Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, as he must already make do without the suspended Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes for Sunday's match against Aston Villa.

"It's probably going to be another two weeks," said Ferguson of Berbatov's ankle problem. "Hopefully, he will be back training with us at the end of next week and he will be OK after that."

To compound United's problems Anderson is still struggling with a knee injury while Carlos Tevez is not due back from South America until later this afternoon following Argentina's stunning six-goal hammering in Bolivia. "I think he gets back from Mars about 4pm," joked Ferguson. "With Dimitar out and Wayne suspended, hopefully Carlos will be OK. That will give us one striker, then we will have to choose another."

Should the prognosis prove correct, Berbatov will also crucially miss both legs of United's Champions League quarter-final against Porto and next weekend's league trip to Sunderland. The 28-year-old would then hope to return in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton on 19 April but the Bulgarian, who has scored 13 times in 33 appearances since joining from Tottenham for £30m last summer, will undoubtedly be missed at a crucial stage in the season.

Should Liverpool avoid defeat at Fulham tomorrow, United could find themselves knocked off the top of the table heading into the match with Villa.