Soccer-Real's Sneijder out for three months with knee injury

MADRID Aug 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder will be out of action for around three months after a scan on his injured left knee on Monday, the Primera Liga club said.

The Dutch international has damaged the internal lateral ligament but will not require surgery as had been feared.

He was carried off during Sunday's 1-0 Emirates Cup defeat by Arsenal after a challenge from Abou Diaby.

The club headed the story "good news" on their website (www.realmadrid.com) as initial tests had raised fears of a torn cruciate ligament which could have put Sneijder out for up to six months.

Sneijder will miss the start of the Primera Liga season and Real's opening Champions League ties. He will also miss the Netherlands' first three 2010 World Cup qualifiers in Group 9 in September and October against Macedonia, Iceland and Norway.

(Writing by Mark Elkington; editing by Trevor Huggins)