Neville and O'Shea out for 'weeks'

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth but the win came at a cost with injuries to captain Gary Neville and John O'Shea.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking after Wednesday's success here at Old Trafford, which left the champions three points clear in front with a game in hand, said of the injuries to Neville and O'Shea, the skipper's replacement at right-back: "There were two bad tackles on them, no action taken.

"They are out for weeks now, unfortunately. Gary Neville has had to go for an X-ray and John O'Shea will have a scan tomorrow (Thursday).