Former Man United striker facing one-year-ban after testing positive for banned substance

A former Man United man is facing a one-year ban [Courtesy]

Giuseppe Rossi's career looks set for another huge setback as he faces a one-year ban for testing positive for a banned substance.

The former Manchester United and Newcastle forward - who has had a career blighted by three cruciate knee ligament injuries - was found to have taken dorzolamide, an anti-glaucoma substance usually found in eye drops which would be legal if he had been given special dispensation for it, in a random test after playing for Genoa in May.

Rossi - who has since been released by Genoa and is a free agent - has denied ever taking eye drops, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Rossi was found to have taken dorzolamide, an anti-glaucoma substance usually found in eye drops [Courtesy]

The 31-year-old, who has 30 Italy caps, will now face a hearing which will determine whether he'll be banned, with a one-year suspension from the game an option.

After joining in December last year, Rossi only played nine games for Genoa, scoring one goal.

He joined Manchester United from Parma as a 17-year-old in 2004 and was considered one of the brightest stars of their academy and reserve sides.

He made 14 appearances for United's first-team, scoring four goals, and played 13 games on loan at Newcastle, scoring once.

He made 14 appearances for United's first-team [Courtesy]

He was at his most prolific at Villarreal in the 2010/11 season, scoring 32 times in 56 appearances, and also scored 16 goals in 21 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina in 2013/14.