Sir Alex Ferguson believes his Manchester United players owe it to injured captain Roy Keane to reach next month's Champions League final.

Keane, who was suspended for United's victorious final against Bayern Munich in 1999, has this year ruled out for at least three weeks with a hamstring injury after Tuesday's 2-0 quarter-final, first leg win at Deportivo Coruna, and will is unlikely to play again this season unless United make it to the Hampden final on May 15.

"I think the players owe Roy a final," Ferguson said. "All we know with Roy is that he will be out for a minimum of three to four weeks. It doesn't look as if he'll play in the semi-final if we get there, which is a huge blow for us and him."

United play the return leg against Deportivo at Old Trafford next Wednesday, with the prospect of an all-English semi-final looming after Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in their first leg at Anfield last night. Should United overcome those hurdles, Keane could make the final.

The second leg against the Spaniards promises to be a stern test for United, who will be without suspended Paul Scholes, while fellow midfielders David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron are doubtful through injury.

Ferguson has said Beckham could be back in time despite being stretchered off on Tuesday with an ankle injury. However, he will definitely miss Saturday's league game at Leicester City.

Veron is nursing an Achilles injury that ruled him out of the Deportivo game. The Argentine told a Buenos Aires radio station yesterday: "It's not an important injury, it's a question of giving it enough time to get better."

Ferguson said: "Juan Veron has been to see a specialist in Italy and hopefully he can be available if required. We'll just have to wait and see."