Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton confirms he has suffered injury blow

Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton will be unavailable for "a few weeks" after picking up an ankle injury before the international break.

Heaton has been the regular back-up to David de Gea this season, featuring in the majority of matchday squads and making two appearances in the Carabao Cup against Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest.

However, the 36-year-old was not involved in United's last match before the break, with Jack Butland instead named as reserve for the 3-1 FA Cup win over Fulham.

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Confirmation from the club on Thursday detailed an ankle injury picked up prior to that quarter-final which will keep the former Burnley man out for the foreseeable future, although no timescale has been provided.

“Yeah, unfortunately the day before the Fulham game I rolled my ankle in training,” Heaton confirmed to club media on Thursday.

“Thankfully, it’s not too bad but it’ll mean a couple of weeks out, I think. I should be back some point in April somewhere, hopefully halfway through.

“It’s an occupational hazard, unfortunately, a bit of a random one but, yeah, I just went over on the ankle and nicked the ligament.

“I’m in this [protective boot] for another few days then hope to get it back moving again.”

Butland, who arrived on loan from Crystal Palace in January following the return of Martin Dubravka to Newcastle, will continue to provide back-up for the ever-present De Gea in Heaton's absence.

De Gea has played in 42 of United's 46 games this season, his 3,780 minutes surpassed only by Bruno Fernandes.