Gabriel Heinze is losing his battle to be fit for the FA Cup final with Arsenal later this month.
The popular Manchester United full-back damaged ankle ligaments in a hefty fall during the win over Newcastle at Old Trafford last month.
Though Sir Alex Ferguson immediately ruled Heinze out of the remainder of United's Premiership programme, he did express the hope the Argentina international would recover in time to face Arsenal in Cardiff on May 21.
Now though, Heinze's chances of emulating fellow countrymen Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa by playing in the final of the world's oldest domestic cup competition are receding.
'There is no real change in Gabby's condition,' Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.
'He is continuing with his treatment and we are praying he will be OK, but it is not looking good.
'There are 16 days to the final now and we have just got to hope that there is an improvement. However, to give him a chance, he has to be back running next week.'
Heinze has emerged as a key member of the United squad since his belated arrival from Paris St Germain in September.
Signed for £6.9million in the summer, the 25-year-old's Red Devils career was delayed by international commitments at the Copa America and Olympic Games.
And the one consolation for Ferguson if Heinze is forced to miss the Arsenal clash is that he would almost certainly also be ruled out of this summer's Confederations Cup in Germany.
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Shame if he cant make it. Truly deserves to be playing in the final.
The popular Manchester United full-back damaged ankle ligaments in a hefty fall during the win over Newcastle at Old Trafford last month.
Though Sir Alex Ferguson immediately ruled Heinze out of the remainder of United's Premiership programme, he did express the hope the Argentina international would recover in time to face Arsenal in Cardiff on May 21.
Now though, Heinze's chances of emulating fellow countrymen Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa by playing in the final of the world's oldest domestic cup competition are receding.
'There is no real change in Gabby's condition,' Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.
'He is continuing with his treatment and we are praying he will be OK, but it is not looking good.
'There are 16 days to the final now and we have just got to hope that there is an improvement. However, to give him a chance, he has to be back running next week.'
Heinze has emerged as a key member of the United squad since his belated arrival from Paris St Germain in September.
Signed for £6.9million in the summer, the 25-year-old's Red Devils career was delayed by international commitments at the Copa America and Olympic Games.
And the one consolation for Ferguson if Heinze is forced to miss the Arsenal clash is that he would almost certainly also be ruled out of this summer's Confederations Cup in Germany.
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Shame if he cant make it. Truly deserves to be playing in the final.
Hope he will make it, but don't want to rush him back so that he may suffer an even more serious set back.