Robin van Persie is out for what could be a lengthy lay-off and will be unavailable when Manchester United face his former club Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 9 March.

The Dutchman, who has scored 10 goals for United this season, suffered an ankle injury in United’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday. He left the Liberty Stadium on crutches and with a protective shoe on his right foot having completed the match after turning his ankle.

Scans have shown the injury is “not heavy”, according to his manager Louis van Gaal, but he still expects a relatively long spell out for his leading striker.

“He is injured. He is the only injured player I have so we change [Michael] Carrick for Van Persie,” he said.

“He has an ankle problem. But I don’t think it’s very heavy but an ankle problem takes a long time. It’s not one week or two weeks but we have to wait and see.”

Van Persie will miss Saturday’s visit of Sunderland, the trip to Newcastle United on 4 March and the FA Cup tie with his old club Arsenal. He is also likely to be a doubt for the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on 15 March.