Muscat will miss FA Cup final due to knee injury

The Millwall captain, Kevin Muscat, faces FA Cup final disappointment after it was confirmed yesterday that he will miss the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Muscat was forced out of the action during Sunday's semi-final with Sunderland following a challenge by George McCartney and now faces the prospect of surgery to discover the full extent of the damage.

The Millwall assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, said the loss of the Australian full-back is a major blow. "Kevin saw the surgeon last night, and at the moment, from what the surgeon can read off the scans, it's not as bad as first thought," he said.

"We won't know the full extent until the surgeon goes in and has a little look around," Wilkins added. "His season is finished, which is a great shame because he has played some exceptional stuff this year and is going to miss out on what should be a wonderful climax to it."

The Birmingham City midfielder Robbie Savage criticised Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of his side's match against Manchester United tomorrow, questioning his signings and claiming he could still get into the Manchester United team.

The one-time United trainee said: "If I'm brutally honest there are players there now who are no better than average. The biggest problem is that David Beckham has been allowed to leave without anyone better - or even his equal - being brought in.

"When I saw the squad for the Porto game recently, I'd have felt disappointed not to be part of it if I had stayed at the club. I'll never be as good as Roy Keane, Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs, but I certainly believe I'd have been good enough to take part on that night.

"Manchester United are the richest club in the world and you expect them to be in there, trying to buy the best players around. Sir Alex must get the chequebook out and go for the best in the summer. The fans will demand it."