FORMER Blackburn Rovers defender David May could miss the start of next season for Manchester United after rupturing an Achilles tendon.

As United bid for a repeat Champions League triumph when they take on Real Madrid at Old Trafford in tonight's quarter final, May's season is already over.

The former Rovers trainee is sidelined until at least August after rupturing his Achilles in his first day back in training with the first team after just recovering from a pulled hamstring.

He said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. It's doing my head in. I'd been training for three or four weeks and everything was fine. I was getting a bit more fitness and getting ready to join the lads.

"Then I started training with the first team and ruptured my Achilles on the first day. There was no reason for it.

"I'll be out with this until August or September. There will be no pre season for me. I'll be staying while the lads go off on their holidays, trying to get fit for the start of next season.

"Nobody loves football more than me and everyone knows I like celebrating! That's been taken away from me. It's so frustrating knowing that, given the chance, I'd be in there and doing well," he told Manchester United radio.

One of the lasting memories of Manchester United's treble-winning success was May's celebrations in Barcelona. The 29-year-old had returned late after an injury-hit season but managed to do enough to pick up an FA Cup and Champions League winners medals and his cheering face was beamed across the world.

With Reds boss Alex Ferguson struggling to decide on his defence, May would have had the opportunity to shine again but instead he's spent the last few weeks on crutches.

And, if coming back last season for the run-in was termed by some as lucky, his catalogue of injuries must make him one of the unluckiest footballers around.

May was part of Rovers squad which gained promotion, via the play-offs, to the Premier Division in1991/92.

He joined the Reds for £1.2million in the summer of 1994 but didn't really come into his own until the 1996/7 season when he secured the centre-half position and was selected for Glenn Hoddle's England squad -- but injury prevented him playing a part.

Since 1998 he has suffered spells on the sidelines and last December went to join Huddersfield Town on loan in a bid to get match fitness. In his first game there, he pulled his hamstring forcing him once more onto the treatment table.

May joins Wes Brown and Jesper Blomqvist on United's long-term injury list.