Man Utd Team News: LvG Confirms Huge Double Injury Boost Ahead Of Chelsea Clash

Manchester United welcome run-away Premier League leaders Chelsea to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Reds boss Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and gave ManUtd.com a team news and injury update.

The Dutchman has endured his fair share of injuries so far this season but he was pleased to reveal a double boost with both Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera declared fit to face Chelsea.

Di Maria has been a rare shinning light in whats otherwise been an inconsistent season so far and there were doubts over his inclusion this weekend after he picked up a muscle injury during Monday night’s 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

However, van Gaal has confirmed that the Argentinean internationals injury wasn’t serious and only saw him miss one days training, so he is fit and available this weekend.

Herrera only returned from a three week absence due to a rib injury at the Hawthorns and was withdrawn at half-time leading to speculation he could have suffered a recurrence of the problem. But van Gaal has eased those fears by declaring him fit to face Chelsea on Sunday.

Otherwise, none of United’s other injury victims are set to return meaning that Michael Carrick is unlikely to feature. The 33-year-old got his first taste of being back among the first team when he was an unused substitute on Monday and he had hoped to push for a start this weekend, but it looks like he’ll have to wait a little longer.

Van Gaal told the clubs website:

“Ander was already fit and, with Di Maria, I said after the game that it [the injury] wasn’t so heavy and it’s not,”

“It was only the first day that he didn’t train so it’s no problem. I’m sorry to say no other players are back, even if I let Michael Carrick play in London for the Reserves [at West Ham] because you need to play matches when you are injured for five months. He told me it was his first game for the Reserves.”

United head into the game sitting a full ten points adrift of leaders Chelsea so they will have to inflict their first defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho’s men if they want to retain any slim hopes of lifting the title this season.