Manchester United Receive Major Injury Boost As Two Key Stars Return Ahead Of Liverpool Clash

Manchester United have received an injury boost in the form of defender Phil Jones as he returned to training this week. Jones suffered from a shin bone injury in his side’s draw against West Brom in October and hasn’t appeared since then.

The news will be music to the ears for the United faithful as their side have had a host of injuries especially in the defensive third. Manager Louis Van Gaal usually considers his players for games after two weeks of training which means Jones could make his first appearance in more than two months in their next home game against Newcastle United on Boxing day. The 22-year old had made four appearances before injuring himself.

Evans and Di Maria set to start

United’s next opponents are arch rivals Liverpool and once again, Van Gaal will have to go with a different defensive combination as Chris Smalling’s groin injury in his side’s win over Southampton will mean that he’ll miss the next two games. The former Fulham defender played only for 18 minutes before being substituted. United went on to win the game 2-1.

Summer signing Angel Di Maria is also in line to make his 1st appearance since the win over Hull City a few weeks back after recovering from a hamstring injury.

With Smalling’s injury, it’s likely that Van Gaal will persist with Evans and Marcos Rojo who haven’t played too many games together. Van Gaal went with a 3-5-2 formation against Southampton with Patrick McNair, Rojo and Smalling in defense. However, the injury to Smalling and McNair’s nervy start to the game prompted him to change it as he brought on Jonny Evans and Ander Herrera and put Michael Carrick in defence. He could do the same again against Liverpool as their attack has struggled this season. With Lambert, they lack the high pressing up top which could play into Carrick’s hand, who will probably play at the heart of the defence.