Carrick was part of England's World Cup squad

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is to miss the start of the Premier League season because of an ankle injury, the club have confirmed.

Carrick picked up the problem during United's 7-1 defeat of an Airtricity League of Ireland side on Wednesday.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the 29-year-old will be out for "a couple of weeks" as a result.

"Michael hurt his ankle. It is nothing serious but he will miss the start of the season," Ferguson added.

The injury means Carrick will be unavailable for Sunday's Community Shield contest with Chelsea and United's Premier League opener with Newcastle on 16 August.

He will also miss England's friendly with Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday, although it is uncertain whether he would have been named in Fabio Capello's squad after the Italian chose not to call on him during the World Cup.

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Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen will get 45 minutes each against Chelsea but admitted a few senior players would miss the season's curtain-raiser because of injury.

"Gabriel Obertan still has the ankle injury he picked up in the United States. It will be a few weeks before Rio Ferdinand is back amongst us and Owen Hargreaves is still in the United States," said Ferguson.

"Anderson is making good progress from his knee injury and he could be back training in two or three weeks."

Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva are also doubtful after suffering a bout of food poisoning.

Ferguson confirmed strikers Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf will be going out on loan during the coming season, with Sunderland and Blackburn believed to be their respective destinations.

But Tom Cleverley, loaned to Watford last term, is staying at Old Trafford after impressing during pre-season.

Ferguson said: "He is an exceptional young player in the sense of his ability to play in different positions. He is a mobile boy who can play wide on either side and in central midfield.

"Also, which he has showed at Watford last year, he is a goalscorer."

Ferguson is well aware Paul Scholes, at 35, is in the twilight of his career and he believes Cleverley could be the missing link.

"The days of expecting Paul Scholes to score 15 goals a season have gone now," the United boss conceded.

"We have to look at that area of the team because we must get goals from midfield. Tom has got outstanding qualities as far as goalscoring is concerned, so he is going to stay."

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