Manchester United skipper Roy Keane will definitely miss the Leeds game on 14 September following manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision not to appeal against his red card at Sunderland.

The Football Association is still awaiting referee Uriah Rennie's report, but an automatic three-match ban is almost certain after Keane was dismissed for elbowing Jason McAteer.

With the ban due to start 14 days after the offence, Keane will miss the visit Elland Road, the home game against Tottenham, plus the trip to Charlton on 28 September.

Later this week Keane will learn whether he is to be charged over the claim in his autobiography that his tackle on Alfie Haaland in last year's Manchester derby was motivated by revenge.

If the FA bans Keane he might not be available for selection until the beginning of November.

"The referee had no choice but to send off Roy," admitted Ferguson, who had initially suggested he would appeal against the dismissal.

"The replay I was shown immediately after the match was misleading.

"Roy is the first United player to be sent off for this offence and I've recently said the use of the elbow is a growing problem in our game.

"It was clear Roy caught him, though I still say it was petty rather than grievous."

Keane is likely to be to be fined an estimated �150,000 by Ferguson for the offence.

The Irishman's red card was the 10th of his United career, and his 11th in total.