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Manchester United defender Guillermo Varela has been ruled out for between three and four months after injuring ankle ligaments while on loan.

The 23-year-old joined Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan in July but is now set to be sidelined until the winter break.

The Uruguayan was injured in the seventh minute of his side's match against Darmstadt 98 at the weekend and was forced off the pitch after colliding with Darmstadt striker Sven Schipplock.

Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac confirmed his injury and sporting director Fredi Bobic told Kicker : "I immediately had a bad feeling. It was a very unnecessary tackle."

Reports in Germany say that Varela will now undergo surgery on Tuesday . His loan runs until 30 June 2017.

Varela moved to United from Penarol in the summer of 2013 and he spent a season on loan with Real Madrid's Castilla side.

He came on as a substitute in Jose Mourinho's first game in charge against Wigan Athetic but was not included in the Reds' squad for their tour of China.

The club explained on their website that he did not travel on the tour because his temporary move to Germany was already in progress.

Varela made his senior United debut against West Ham in December and has made 10 starts for the first-team. He also scored the title-winning goal for the Under-21s vs Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane last season.