"United have been dealt a blow ahead of the 2009-10 season after confirming that Edwin van der Sar has been sidelined for the start of the campaign," a statement on the club's website confirmed.

The 38-year-old is not expected to be back until late September, meaning United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have to use either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak for the opening weeks of the season.

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Foster is more likely to get the nod from Ferguson after the Scot recently claimed the keeper would end the season as a serious contender to be England's number one at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

The former Stoke stopper signed a new contract in July and Ferguson said at the time: "He (Foster) is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in England and we genuinely see him as a successor to Edwin."