Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes could miss the start of the season after the club confirmed he would undergo an exploratory knee operation which could keep him out for up to a month.
Scholes picked up a knock to his knee during his side's pre-season tour to Asia and headed home to Manchester five days early while his team-mates ran in six unanswered goals against Shenzhen.
Manager Alex Ferguson said: 'Paul fell on his knee in the last game. We've sent him home for arthroscopy to see what kind of damage there is.
'We don't think it's serious but it could keep him out for three weeks or a month.
"We've had some scans done and there is a bit of discolourment about the cartilage.'
