Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of Bulgaria's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with an ankle injury. Berbatov, 28, left Craven Cottage with his ankle in a protective cast after playing just 45 minutes of United's 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday.

The striker will now miss Bulgaria's qualifier against Ireland on March 28 in Dublin and the following Wednesday's visit of Cyprus. Berbatov is also an early injury doubt for United's next game against Aston Villa on April 5.

Wayne Rooney will miss the visit of Villa to Old Trafford through suspension so Sir Alex Ferguson may have only one recognised striker at his disposal in Carlos Tevez.

"There's no chance of Berbatov playing against Ireland and Cyprus," said Bulgarian national team doctor Mihail Iliev. I've talked to Manchester United's medical staff and they informed me that he'll need to rest in the next two weeks and his foot will be immovable during that period."