Manchester United 0, Reading 0.

Wayne Rooney looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines after Manchester United confirmed the £27m striker suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot during this afternoon's 0-0 draw with Reading.

The incident occurred near the end of the opening period when Rooney fired a low cross from Michael Carrick just over the crossbar.

In attempting to make a tackle, Michael Duberry accidentally trod on Rooney's foot.

It was clear instantly Rooney had a problem, as he went down and removed his boot.

Although he was able to continue briefly, he did not reappear for the second half, with Ferguson sending the 21-year-old for a scan.

Although the United boss expressed the hope the damage would not be too bad, his worst fears now appear to have been confirmed, although the precise extent of the injury is not known.

However, having already suffered two broken metatarsals in his career already, the last against Chelsea in 2006 which nearly cost Rooney a place in that summer's World Cup finals, it would be a big surprise if the former Everton man was not sidelined for a couple of months at least.

Certainly, he will miss United's forthcoming Premier League encounters with Portsmouth and Manchester City, plus England's friendly with Germany on August 22.

In all probability England coach Steve McClaren will also be without his first choice striker for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia at the beginning of next month.

Ferguson said: ''There was no point in him continuing because there was a lot of swelling and he had quite a lot of pain.''

With Rooney out and both Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only returning to training after long-term injuries last week, Ferguson seems certain to hand Carlos Tevez his debut at Fratton Park on Wednesday.

''I was considering using Carlos at Portsmouth anyway but obviously, he will come into our thoughts even more now,'' said Ferguson.

The United boss had no hesitation in claiming his side would have won had Rooney remained on the pitch.

Undoubtedly, the 21-year-old was the Red Devils' most effective performer until his departure and though United huffed and puffed afterwards, the nearest they came to breaking Reading's resistance was when Paul Scholes nodded straight at Marcus Hahnemann in the last minute.

''If Wayne had stayed on, we would have gone on to win the match,'' claimed Ferguson.

''That lack of a central striker cost us.''

The hosts did not even benefit from the dismissal of substitute Dave Kitson, whose appearance was one of the briefest in Premier League history.

Kitson had only been on the pitch for 37 seconds before was sent off by referee Rob Styles for a lunge at Patrice Evra.

''I have looked at it again and his foot probably was a little bit high,'' said Reading boss Steve Coppell.

''The difference between a malicious, red-card challenge and a very good challenge is a milli-second.

''Possibly he deserved to be sent off but Dave is not a dangerous player.''

Kitson was stunned by his dismissal and urged Styles to look at the incident again.

He said: ''I can't believe it was a straight red card and I'd implore Rob Styles to have a second look at it.

''I know I caught him (Evra) - I was trying so desperately to stop him clearing the ball up the pitch, sometimes you are successful and sometimes you miss.

''The last words to me were 'show passion on the pitch, stop them playing and try to sneak a goal'.

''It's a yellow card - but a straight red, I'm lost for words.''

Although his conservative game-plan, aimed at avoiding the trouncing Fulham suffered at Old Trafford on the opening day of last season, worked to perfection, Coppell was upset at the reaction afterwards.

''After watching the guys on TV, I almost feel like I have to apologise,'' he said.

''It does bother me because I want people to think we are more than just a defensive side.

''But your season-long dreams can be shattered very quickly here.

"I would have loved to have gone 4-4-2 and seen what happened but we would have got hammered.''

On a weekend when Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all won, Ferguson's team already find themselves adrift of their major rivals for the Premier League title.

However, the United boss remained upbeat, confirming he had no intention of bringing in any more striking reinforcements, even though he was forced to pair John O'Shea with Cristiano Ronaldo up front midway through the second period against Reading.

''There is no criticism at all today,'' he said.

''We did everything we could; played with great panache and urgency and good tempo.

''It was everything you look for in the first game of the season, we just didn't get the goal."