Moyes Offers Injury Update

David Moyes has shed light on the varying issues that kept Shinji Kagawa, Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling from playing in Saturday's Premier League defeat to Newcastle.

Speaking during his post-match press conference at Old Trafford after the Reds were narrowly beaten 1-0 via Yohan Cabaye's solitary goal, the Reds manager was keen to explain why all three players were omitted after starting against Everton in midweek.

"Shinji was very sick after the [Everton] game and he did a bit of training on Friday but he was low,” Moyes explained. "All of the stats that we look at were low so we felt we had better not take a risk in case we got an injury by playing him."

Revealing more about Kagawa's health, as well as Fellaini and Smalling, the boss continued: "It was a bad sickness. He thinks he ate too much, and he had to get his stomach pumped, but I think he is okay. Felli had a bruised back and Chris Smalling had a tight hamstring, so that is why both of them weren't available."

Moyes was also asked about BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson's claim that Robin van Persie "might have asked for a transfer", and the boss was quick to rubbish the rumour. He responded to a query from the press by saying: "Yeah, you can ask about that, no problem, and I would say that it is absolute nonsense. I don't know what other harder or tougher word I have got for it than that. That is as good as I have got."