Carrick Available For Liverpool Match

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has refused to reveal whether David De Gea will return in goal to face Liverpool but Michael Carrick is available to take on the Merseysiders.

De Gea, who signed a new contract on Friday, could replace Sergio Romero for one of the biggest games of the season with the boss currently assessing the Spaniard's performances in training.

Carrick pulled out of England duty in midweek with a slight calf strain, while youngster Andreas Pereira was injured in a friendly for Brazil's Olympic team against France.

When asked by MUTV about a possible recall for De Gea, van Gaal replied: "You shall see it - you never know. His head is empty now and that is very important. He can now focus and concentrate on this game and has played 90 minutes for Spain. Now we have to judge how he is in our training sessions. Only Andreas Pereira has come back [from the internationals] with an injury."

Centre-back Phil Jones is making progress after missing the opening six games of the season while the signs are looking positive for Carrick.

"Jones was already injured so I have two injured players," added the boss. "It is going very well with him, the clot has gone. We need the permission of the specialist at the hospital but I think, next week, he will train again with us.

"He [Carrick] can play. He was very wise to come in [pull out of international duty], but I think he can play. We have to wait and see also in the last training session, but I think he can play."