Manchester United star ruled out for weeks after horrific injury

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Marouane Fellaini has been sidelined for up to four weeks - ruling him out of a January move from Manchester United.

United were ready to listen to offers for Fellaini, who has played just 31 minutes in seven games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

AC Milan and Porto were linked with a move for the 31-year-old, but a calf injury has ruled the midfielder out for up to a month, meaning the Belgium international is staying put at United.

"Fellaini is the long-term one that's out," said Solskjaer.

"He'll probably be at least three or four weeks. He's got a calf problem and that's sad.

"There's X-factor in different players and we all know Felli's X-factor. Then again, he'll be working hard to get back in when all the big games are coming as well."

Solskajer is going for his seventh win in a row as United boss when they take on Brighton at Old Trafford tomorrow, with the former United striker confident he can keep the winning run going.

"As I've said before, you go into every single game as a Manchester United coach as a player or manager thinking you'll win the next one," said Solskajer.

"That's just the nature of this club. We've had six good games but the next one is the most important one. Everyone said about Tottenham being the test.

"I don't think that's a test in attitude, because the players are gonna be up for that game. I'm looking for a reaction in a home game against a team you should dominate and be better than."

Solskjaer also said he is looking forward to seeing Alexis Sanchez in action for a prolonged period, after the £500,000-a-week forward's injury woes.

"A player loves to play football, it doesn't matter who you are and he's been hindered by injury," said Solskjaer. "I know how frustrating that can be and how eager you are to get back.

"Maybe in the Reading game at half-time he should have told me to come off, because the next 15 or 20 mins were a setback.

"But he's champing at the bit in training. He's attitude has been fantastic in training and I'm looking forward to seeing him, I've got loads of good players to choose from."

Asked if over-confidence could be a problem, after six straight wins, Solskjaer said: "Overconfident? No you cannot be too confident, it's complacency, it's the other side of it.

"I want players to be confident but not complacent and take their foot off the pedal because that's a big difference for me. Take people on, running, passing forward, getting the crowd with them because that's what it's about."

Solskajer, in charge until the end of the season, said he is relishing being back in Manchester, following his glittering 11-year stint at United as a player.

"I love it to be fair, and I have to say I look forward to getting up in the morning to start work again," said Solskjaer. "I always do in football, at Molde and Cardiff .

"I love working with people, trying to improve people and here you want to go to bed at night and get up in the morning and work.

"I'm still in the hotel, but I've found a place and won't be too long. I've been driving around a bit and finding my bearings, I've met mates so it's not like I'm on my own."