Wes Brown should be fit in time for the World Cup this summer.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manchester United defender Wes Brown will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a foot injury but should be fit for England's World Cup campaign.

The right back, who can also play in the centre of the defence, broke a bone in his left foot during Saturday's Premier League victory over Wolverhampton.

Brown, who sustained a similar injury last year, is likely to miss Premier League matches against Fulham, Liverpool, Bolton and Chelsea. The injury will also rule him out of the Champions League quarter-finals if United protects a 3-2 lead over AC Milan on Wednesday.

"It's just unfortunate," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Tuesday. "He has had a career blighted by injury and they've all been long ones, and now he has another. He'll be out for four to six weeks. I hope to get him back for some of the season."

Ferguson will have to chose between captain Gary Neville and Rafael da Silva in Brown's absence.

The recovery time-scale should give Brown playing time before Fabio Capello names his squad for the World Cup. England's campaign opens against the United States on June 12.