Marouane Fellaini suffers ankle ligament damage in Manchester United training

Belgian midfielder seen hobbling on crutches after injury

Fellaini set for spell out, but early signs suggest he hasn't broken his ankle

Midfielder the latest United player to be hit by injury

Fellaini featured in 2-1 defeat by Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

The £27.5m midfielder is believed to have suffered an injury in training and was photographed hobbling on crutches and wearing a protective boot.

we understands that the early prognosis is that the Belgian has not broken his ankle but there are fears in his native Belgium that he has suffered ankle ligament damage. Fellaini is awaiting the result of further scans. 

Fellaini has endured a traumatic 12 months at Old Trafford since signing from Everton on deadline day last summer.

He is still to score a competitive goal and made only 16 starts amid poor form and injury problems in his first campaign at the club.

It is understood that new manager Louis van Gaal signalled his intention to sell the Belgian at the beginning of the summer but United's attempts to move Fellaini may be doomed following this latest set-back.

Napoli are interested in the midfielder but they are looking to take Fellaini on loan, rather than the permanent deal that United are hoping for. It is thought that Van Gaal has been waiting to recruit another central midfield option before allowing Fellaini to leave, with Michael Carrick out until the beginning of October.

Fellaini joins a host of United players on the injury list, after Carrick, Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia all missed the opening day defeat by Swansea. Robin van Persie, however, is edging closer to a return and could yet be involved at Sunderland on Sunday.

Manchester United declined to comment on the midfielder's injury.