Mixed News For United's Injured Players

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is likely to be without three players who were on Under-21 duty on Monday when naming his squad to face Sunderland this weekend.

Phil Jones, Guillermo Varela and Adnan Januzaj all picked up knocks during the second string's 7-0 win over Norwich City at Old Trafford. Although Bastian Schweinsteiger is still sidelined, there is more encouraging news on Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia following their operations.

"It's not looking good because I also let my players play in the second team and various players were injured again," the manager told MUTV at the Aon Training Complex on Friday afternoon. "They're not very nasty injuries but I still have to give them time to recover.

"It is a big pity because Jones is a very good central defender and we are missing him and also Marcos Rojo for a long time already.

"I cannot say Bastian is returning within two weeks because I have given him, more or less, a little holiday as he also has to change his mindset. It's good for players. I have done that also with Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw, for example, when you are injured for longer than normal.

"The light at the end of the tunnel is more for Rojo and for Valencia. They are coming back and I hope it's as soon as possible."

Van Gaal also revealed to MUTV that striker Will Keane has been rewarded for his spectacular form at Under-21 level with a place in Saturday's squad.

The Reds are unbeaten in 13 league visits to the Stadium of Light and will close the gap on the Barclays Premier League top four with victory ahead of Sunday's schedule, when Arsenal face Leicester City and Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur.

Credit: Manutd.com