The French striker has been out of action since March, missing United's crucial close to the season. The injury-prone forward is not expected to play before November, his agent said.

"Louis has had surgery in America and he won't be on the field now for a few months," Ranko Stojic told the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday.

"I don't know when he will be able to start training again, but he is looking at being back around November or December. But it is going to be a while."

Stojic quashed rumors suggesting that the French international could be leaving Old Trafford due to his persistent injury problems, noting that the Frenchman’s main concern is to regain his fitness.

"He's been unlucky and it is very important now that he gets back to 100 per cent fitness," Stojic added.

Saha made a flying start with the Premiership champions last season, scoring 8 goals in the process, but has then suffered from a host of injuries that kept him out of most of United's second half of the season.

Saha's new setback will heap on Sir Alex Ferguson's dogged search for a striker to partner Wayne Rooney in the United roster.