Manchester United Injury News: The Captain Fantastic Set To Return

Manchester United Injury News

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has confirmed that club captain Wayne Rooney will return to the first team for the game against Southampton on Monday.

The Captain fantastic  missed the side’s last game against Stoke City due to a knee injury that he picked in the win over Hull City on 29th November. When Van Gaal was asked about the striker’s fitness, he replied positively, “The news is very good, he shall play.”

Rooney scored in his last appearance against Hull City and has been in brilliant form for United this season. Since his suspension, he has been a key player in his side’s four-match winning streak for the first time this year. The 29-year old has scored five times and set up two goals this season.

Di Maria set to miss out

Van Gaal also gave an update on club record signing Angel Di Maria who sat out the last game due to a hamstring tear. The Dutchman revealed that he will return soon to action, but Monday’s clash will come a bit too soon for the Argentinian, “It (his return) shall be quickly but not for Monday.”

United have a key run of games coming up as they take on Southampton and face Liverpool at home in the next few days. They currently occupy a top-4 spot and if they manage to beat Southampton and Liverpool, they’ll create a small gap between themselves and their opponents.

On the prospect of the upcoming games, Van Gaal said, “Southampton play better at this moment and have more points than Liverpool so the sequence is good that we have to play Southampton now. What more can I say?

“I am always occupied with the first match and that’s Southampton. After the match we can say that but before it is always difficult.”

United are on 25 points at the moment, so a victory over Southampton will take them two points above them into third spot. Considering the kind of start they had, a third spot at the start of December will be a huge achievement for Van Gaal.