Testing times: Old Trafford is openly unhappy at team's sterile playing style
Testing times: Old Trafford is openly unhappy at team's sterile playing style

Manchester United injury list rises to nine as Van Gaal counts cost of Watford win

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on

By Editor Wayne Veysey 

| Former Evening Standard, Press Association and Goal chief correspondent with 17 years experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

Follow me on Twitter @footyinsider247

Manchester United have nine players on their casualty list following their 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday. Phil Jones and Ander Herrera joined the club's ever-growing injury list when they sustained ankle and hamstring injuries respectively at Vicarage Road.

Herrera had provided the cross for Memphis Depay's sweetly-struck opening goal before pulling up and being replaced by Marco Rojo after 25 minutes.

United defender Phil Jones suffered the latest in what has been a lengthy string of injuries for him when he twisted his ankle and was substituted at the 69-minute mark. Both players are rated doubtful to face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League next Wednesday.

They join a treatment room that includes Anthony Martial (foot), Marouane Fellaini (calf), Michael Carrick (ankle), James Wilson (knee) as well as long-term absentees Luke Shaw (broken leg) and Antonio Valencia (ankle). Wayne Rooney also missed the Watford match with an  illness.

Fitness fears: Man United are sweating over injury suffered by Martial at Wembley
Fitness fears: Man United are sweating over injury suffered by Martial at Wembley

Speaking after the game, manager Louis van Gaal said: "These are not heavy injuries, but it is difficult to play against PSV (in the Champions League).

"It's a lousy period for us with so many injuries abut and maybe (Wayne) Rooney, because illness is a matter of days and not weeks - so I think he can comeback for PSV and maybe (Anthony) Martial, but you never know."

www.footballinsider247.com