1:49PM BST 08 Sep 2012
The 20-year-old, who can play at full-back or centre-half, left United’s Carrington base on crutches on Thursday after twisting his knee in training.
Scans on Friday identified meniscus damage, prompting United to send the former Blackburn player for surgery.
A United spokesman said: “Phil Jones has had surgery on a knee meniscus tear sustained in training that will require six to eight weeks of rehabilitation.”
The loss of Jones is a blow to manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been set to recall the £16.5m defender back into his squad for next Saturday’s clash with Wigan following his recovery from a back problem that has sidelined him since pre-season.
Jones has been plagued by injury since suffering a fractured cheekbone following a clash with Clint Dempsey at Fulham last season, but United are hopeful that the youngster will be fit to return from his latest problems within two months.
Ferguson remains without centre-half Chris Smalling, who is still a month away from fitness after suffering a broken metatarsal during pre-season training in July.
Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand have both recently returned from injury-lay-offs, while captain Nemanja Vidic has so far avoided setbacks after ending a nine-month cruciate ligament injury lay-off.
