Carlos Tevez has sustained a badly bruised ankle after being carried off during Manchester United's 1-0 win over Birmingham City at Old Trafford on New Year's Day, but the club have comfirmed the injury is not as severe as it was first feared.

The Argentinian, scorer of the game's only goal, was substituted with 20 minutes to go and was then carried down the tunnel by two members of the United backroom staff.

That raised concerns that Tevez could even have suffered a broken ankle in a heavy challenge. Those fears, though, were today allayed by the club. "Nothing is broken, Carlos Tevez has just got a badly bruised right ankle," said a club spokesperson.

Tevez is now considered a major doubt for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa, but Wayne Rooney, who has missed United's last two games with a virus, should be fit to return to the side and soften the blow.