Manchester United suffered a serious blow yesterday when Louis Saha, the France forward, was ruled out for at least four weeks with a hamstring strain. The injury has come at a bad time, with Henrik Larsson returning to Sweden after the FA Cup quarter-final tie away to Middlesbrough on Saturday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sidelined through injury and Alan Smith short of match fitness.

It leaves United with only one fit, recognised forward, Wayne Rooney — although the England player required eight stitches in a knee after being caught by Jamie Carragher during the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday — and will give Chelsea, who trail United by nine points in the Barclays Premiership, renewed hope in the title race.

Saha damaged his left hamstring during shooting practice on Tuesday before United’s Champions League first knockout round, second-leg match at home to Lille last night. He will probably miss Premiership matches against Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth, as well as the Cup tie against Middlesbrough and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

Larsson played his penultimate match last night before he returns home to Helsingborg, while Solskjaer faces a further three weeks out after a knee operation. Smith has not started a first-team match since November.