Manchester United's injury jinx struck again today when it was confirmed that their England midfielder Nicky Butt needs ankle surgery.
Butt will have the operation on Tuesday in a bid to clear up the problem which has kept him out of the club's last three games.
Ferguson admitted last week that the Old Trafford medics had failed to establish the cause of Butt's injury, but a scan has revealed that surgery is the only appropriate action.
"Nicky is the seventh player we have had to send for an operation this season," said Ferguson. "We sent him for a scan and unfortunately, he will have to undergo an operation on Tuesday."
United are already struggling without the backbone of their team - Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ferdinand had knee surgery earlier this month, Keane needed an operation on his hip and van Nistelrooy is struggling with a hamstring injury.
Butt's England colleague Paul Scholes has also had knee surgery this season while defender Wes Brown is still recovering from his long-term injury problems.