Man Utd Suffer Fresh Double Injury Blow With Duo Set To Undergo Scans

Manchester United have suffered a fresh double injury blow with Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian picking up knocks during last night’s loss at Wolfsburg.

Smalling captained United in the absence of Wayne Rooney during Tuesday night’s disappointing loss 3-2 at Wolfsburg but suffered a groin injury during the second half as the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League.

With United trailing 2-1 at the time of the injury and Louis van Gaal having used all three of his permitted substitutes, the centre-back was forced to finish the game playing as a make-shift striker but was visibly struggling during the closing stages.

The Mirror claim that Smalling will now undergo scans to determine the full extent of the injury when he arrives back in Manchester from Germany this afternoon but van Gaal has already confirmed the defender is a doubt for this weekend’s trip to Bournemouth.

It will come as a major blow to United if Smalling has picked up a serious injury as he’s been their best defender this season and has become central to the tightest defence in the Premier League, so van Gaal will be praying for some positive news.

In a double blow, full-back Matteo Darmian was forced off in the first half last night after picking up a hamstring injury and was replaced by 18-year-old Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

Speaking after the game last night, van Gaal is quoted as saying by ManUtd.com:

“Matteo Darmian has a hamstring injury and Smalling probably a groin injury,”

“Smalling could not jump at the moment of the set plays and that goal [Wolfsburg’s third] was also because of that. He had to give it [defensive responsibility] to another player and that’s always a question of communication and quality. With Naldo [who scored twice], we knew in advance that he was a very important header for them.”

“I don’t know, it’s happened this evening, but normally they are out for Saturday.”

The Italian international will also be further assessed at Carrington this afternoon but it’s another injury headache van Gaal could do without as United gear up for the hectic festive period.

They are already without several first team players with Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw all missing the trip to Germany last night, so losing Smalling and Darmian is the last thing van Gaal needs.