Manchester United say Daley Blind knee injury will be 'long story'

Posted Friday, November 21, 2014 by theguardian.com

· United midfielder injured playing for Holland
· Louis van Gaal: 'It shall be long story but not six months'

Daley Blind lies injured after a challenge with Latvia's Eduards Viskanovs during their Euro 2016 qualifier in Amsterdam.

Daley Blind faces an extended period out with the knee ligament injury the Manchester United midfielder sustained playing in Holland's 6-0 win over Latvia.

Louis van Gaal was more optimistic than initial reports after Sunday's international, stating: "I can't say it will be six to eight weeks. I can't even say it will be 10 to 12 weeks but it is definitely not six months."

Nonetheless, Blind is unlikely to play again until next year, compounding United's injury problems. Radamel Falcao will be out for another two weeks while Luke Shaw is a doubt for Saturday's trip to Arsenal because of a hamstring problem. Van Gaal also said Rafael da Silva, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans are not available.

Regarding Blind, the United manager said: "It's not as bad as the doctors thought after the match. It shall be a long story but not six months or something. He has a brace on his knee. After 10 days' rest, he'll have another scan that will say more about the injury."

Falcao should be fit for United's visit to Southampton on 8 December. "Next week he shall train with our selection [squad] and then he needs two weeks," Van Gaal said. "It's always like that I have explained to my players, it's not only a question of fitness but also you have to train with the group. Then you have to be better than the players who are on the list. I've said that before. Until now he didn't train with the group so it's out of the question for him to be on the bench."

Falcao said: "I am getting better, I feel well and I hope to come back to the pitch soon. It is disappointing I can't play but I have to be calm and recover because that is important to help the team when I return to the games."

While Marcos Rojo, Jesse Lingard, and Ashley Young remain long-term absentees, of Jones, Evans and Da Silva Van Gaal said: "Evans will play in the second squad next week, that's part of recovery. You've seen it with other players. Michael Carrick had to do it. I think you have to make minutes to be fit enough to play on a higher level in the Premier League. The second team is a lower level.

"Rafael and Jones are still not fit enough to train. My philosophy is that you have to train at least one week with the team - better two weeks. When you see our circumstances then maybe I have to bring players now in the squad, because of the circumstances.

"I'm always a worried man in Manchester because we have a lot of injuries. It's unbelievable but we have to manage. We can speak about all the injuries but we still have to manage that. I've said that also to the players. It's a pity but we have enough players to do the job."

Shaw suffered his injury during England's 3-1 win over Scotland and faces a fitness test on Friday, leaving Van Gaal to make one of a number of late decisions. "It's difficult to say because we have to wait and see the training session on Friday to decide if players are coming back," he said.

There was better news for Van Gaal. David de Gea, who has a finger problem, Ángel di María (foot) and Carrick (groin) are available to play against Arsenal despite each being injured while on international duty.

"Di María has trained today normally so I don't think that is a question mark," he said. "De Gea is good, no problem. I think I have to wait for the reaction in training with Carrick but I also expect he's ready to play," he said.

Wayne Rooney scored twice in England's win over Scotland to take his international tally for the season to six while only scoring three times for United. The captain's last goal for the club was in late September and Van Gaal said: "It's fantastic when you see he's the youngest player with 100 caps. He's receiving a cap and his sons are standing there proud but also that the father is proud. It's fantastic to see. I have congratulated him but now he has to score for Manchester United and that's important as well.

"I think Rooney is not a typical striker, I'm not using him always as a striker. He can also play as a striker but he's not a typical one. That's remarkable when you score so much but that's also extra quality. You can use Rooney in different positions. For a manager he's a fantastic player."

Van Gaal added he has no regrets about allowing Danny Welbeck to be sold to Arsenal. "I think that a player who is playing mostly fixed [as a starter] in the team, he develops and always will. He takes all the benefit from playing every week. That was a question mark with Manchester United. It's good to see he's doing what I thought."