Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is out for three weeks with a torn thigh muscle.

The Old trafford club's record signing picked up the injury during United's 2-0 Champions League victory against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

It puts Ferdinand out of Sunday's game against his former club West Ham at Upton Park, and Premiership ties against Newcastle and Liverpool.

United will hope that the �30m signing will be back to face Arsenal on 7 December.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said the injury to Ferdinand was a "body blow".

"It is a killer because he is only just back from his knee operation," said Ferguson.

"It illustrates the kind of season we have had. Rio just seemed to flick at the ball.

"There was no challenge and no tackle. Maybe a bit of tiredness, towards the end of the match, it is hard to say. It was out of nothing," he added.

The England international missed the start of the season after turning an ankle during a friendly, then was sidelined last month following keyhole surgery on his knee.