Manchester United dealt major injury blow as Eric Bailly confirms two-month absence on Instagram

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has confirmed he is set to miss two months of action with a knee injury suffered in the weekend defeat to Chelsea.

The Ivory Coast international was replaced by Marcos Rojo in the 52<sup>nd minute of the 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, with Jose Mourinho revealing post-match he feared the worst for his summer signing.

"He is injured and I am afraid he is badly injured," Mourinho said. "In his knee, in the ligament area, he feels it is really bad."

Bailly has now confirmed the extent of his injury, writing on Instagram alongside a picture of him wearing a leg brace: "I wanted to thank you all for the messages of support that I have received since the injury. I hope to be able to play for United and The Elephants [Ivory Coast] before two months. God willing."

Bailly picked up the injury following a collision with Chelsea's Eden Hazard. The United defender was expected to miss five weeks of United's season in January due to his participation in Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations. That could now be under threat, however.

The former Villarreal defender will also miss United's remaining Europa League group campaign fixtures, in addition to key Premier League clashes against Arsenal (19 November), Everton (4 December) and Tottenham Hotspur (11 December).

The injury immediately rules him out of Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth round clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford with Marouane Fellaini also a doubt for that match. The Belgium midfielder was replaced by Juan Mata at half-time after he was on the receiving end of a high challenge from David Luiz.