Injured Valencia on his way home

MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Antonio Valencia has flown back to England and will play no part in the club's pre–season tour of the United States.

Valencia sustained a nasty ankle injury in his country's opening match.

While he doesn’t believe the problem is serious, Ferguson is taking no chances and has told the player to head back to United's training complex for treatment.

"Antonio has gone straight back to Manchester," said Ferguson after United’s 4–1 win over New England Revolution in Boston.

"We have the facilities back at Carrington. That is the best place for him."

It was a long–term ankle injury last season that persuaded Ferguson to head into the transfer market this summer to secure a reinforcement.

The chosen player, Ashley Young, made his debut in front of 51,000 at the Gillette Stadium, producing a number of decent crosses from his wide role and showing enough signs to suggest he will have no problem settling into his new surroundings.