Manchester United are hopeful that Rio Ferdinand will return in time for the derby clash with Manchester City at Maine Road on November 9th.
The England defender had keyhole surgery on his right knee yesterday.
Ferdinand's injury is similar to the one sustained by Paul Scholes and United expect him to be back in action in three to four weeks' time.
Ferdinand misses tonight's Premiership clash with Everton and England's opening two European 2004 qualifiers against Slovakia and Macedonia.
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If he is sidelined for the full four weeks Ferdinand would also miss the Premiership matches against Fulham, Aston Villa and Southampton, Champions League matches against Olympiakos and Maccabi Haifa and the Worthington Cup third-round tie against Leicester.