Man Utd Injury News: Van Gaal Offers Update On Van Persie, Valencia, Evans + More

Manchester United kick off the new Premier League season when they welcome Swansea City to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

Ahead of the game, new boss Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and gave ManUtd.com an injury update where he confirmed that he’ll be without several players for the game tomorrow.

Among those absent is striker Robin van Persie with the Dutch international still not fully fit following his exploits at the World Cup this summer, with van Gaal saying the hitman has ‘no chance’ of featuring against the Swans.

England forward Danny Welbeck is also missing which further limits van Gaal’s options in attack, while young goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is also on the sidelines – but he was highly unlikely to be named in the squad this weekend.

Michael Carrick is still out with an ankle injury he sustained back in July and he’s joined on the sidelines by Antonio Valencia, who appears to have failed a late fitness test on a minor knock.

Luke Shaw is unavailable due to a hamstring strain and van Gaal claims there are a number of reasons for his absence, but he’s not concerned as Ashley Young has impressed during pre-season on the left hand side.

The final player missing tomorrow is centre-back Jonny Evans meaning United are extremely short at the back with van Gaal able to call upon just two senior players to fill his new-look back three, so youngster Tyler Blackett is likely to start at the back.

van Gaal told the clubs website:

“Sam Johnstone – the goalkeeper. Antonio Valencia, Shaw and Evans – three defenders. Welbeck. I believe that is it. Van Persie has no chance. He has to train.

“We have analysed Shaw and it is difficult to lay a finger on it. It is difficult to look for the solution but there are a lot of reasons. After the World Cup, all the players are coming back at different moments and it is very difficult to train. We have the travel, jet-lag and a lot of matches in 14 days. Another reason is the amount of training sessions but we are doing half of what we have done with the other clubs.

“But we have played in the US with Reece James and Ashley Young in that position, so it is well covered. I am not worried. I am not nervous. We have players injured and not injured. Tomorrow is the match that counts.”

Despite the number of injuries United will have to deal with this weekend, van Gaal should be confident of getting off to a winning start in his first competitive game in charge since taking over the reigns at Old Trafford.

What team would you like to see start now you’ve seen the team news?