Man Utd Team News: van Gaal Offers Injury Update Ahead Of Stoke Clash

Manchester United will look to put a turbulent week behind them and get back to winning ways when they take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.

Ahead of the game, Louis van Gaal has been holding his pre-match press conference this afternoon and although the Dutchman walked out after just 5 minutes in response to media speculation over his future, the Dutchman did find the time to provide ManUtd.com with a team news update.

van Gaal confirmed that none of his injured players will be ready to make their return to action this weekend meaning he’ll have to pick from the same squad that lost 2-1 to Norwich City at Old Trafford last time out.

Matteo Darmian is the closest to making his comeback with the Italian international set to be in contention for next week’s clash with Chelsea after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury that he suffered against Wolfsburg earlier this month.

Phil Jones made his return to first team action against Norwich last time out and showed no reaction after completing the full ninety minutes, but Jesse Lingard remains out with a hamstring injury that he picked up at Bournemouth last week.

Here is what van Gaal told the clubs website:

“It is more or less the same so there is no difference, only that Phil Jones played 90 minutes against Norwich and had no reaction. That’s a good signal.

“I think Darmian shall come next week and then maybe against Chelsea, we have to see that but of course we have injuries that take a long time. For example, Shaw, Valencia and Rojo, and you cannot change that.”

With Darmian and Lingard still unavailable for selection this weekend and Bastian Schweinsteiger serving the final game of his ban, it means United will take on Stoke without six first team players with the trio joining long-term injury victims Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw on the sidelines.

The Reds head to the Britannia without a win in their last six games in all competitions so van Gaal will be hoping to put any speculation surrounding his future behind him and give their title challenge a major boost with a positive result this weekend.