Ruud van Nistelrooy could be out for as long as a year after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a training incident earlier today.
The Dutch striker fell awkwardly after going for a header in training, buckling the same right knee he hurt six weeks ago while attempting a bicycle kick. He was able to walk off the pitch but was taken to St Amna Hospital in the nearby town of Geldrop to assess the damage.
Earlier this afternoon PSV club doctor Cees Rein van der Hoogenband carried out an exploratory operation on the Dutch international, who was set to join Manchester United in a record £18.5million move on Tuesday before he failed his medical, and found a further knee problem.
On Tuesday United had wanted Van Nistelrooy to undergo key-hole sugery to make sure his medial ligament injury would cause no lasting damage. But the Dutch international feared the minor surgery would jeopardise his chances of being fit to play in Euro 2000.
PSV and van Nistelrooy insisted that the injury had cleared up and that he would be able to play in the European Championships. But United were not convinced as they worried that a medial ligament injury can lead to a more serious cruciate ligament damage - a worry that has proven remarkably prescient.
A statement on PSV Eindhoven's website confirmed the injury. "This morning, Ruud van Nistelrooy's knee gave way during a rehabilitation training," it said. "Van Nistelrooy left the field and at this moment he is being examined at the hospital in Geldrop. At this moment there is no information on the seriousness of the injury."