The Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard will be out for at least a month with an ankle injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that the 27-year-old Dane has suffered ligament damage and will spend "at least four weeks, maybe five or six" on the sidelines.

Lindegaard's injury means David de Gea is likely to be in goal for United for the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Lindegaard has made eight league appearances this season and had been selected ahead of the Spaniard for several recent matches, including the FA Cup derby against Manchester City and the Premier League visit to Arsenal. De Gea was largely unimpressive when he returned to the first team for the FA Cup match against Liverpool on 28 January, but two days later Lindegaard suffered his injury in training.