Manchester United suffered huge injury blow, as their reliable midfield man Michael Carrick has been ruled out for a month with an injury suffered in training. The midfielder could miss up to seven games with a muscle rupture. Carrick will definitely miss Leicester City visit to Old Trafford this week, along with the FA Cup replay with Cambridge United, the trip to West Ham, Burnley’s visit, a possible fifth round Cup game at Sheffield United or Preston North End and games against Swansea and Sunderland in the league.
Louis van Gaal in a press conference confirmed the 33-year-old faces a four-week lay-off ahead of the visit of Leicester City on Saturday. According to Manchester Evening news, Van Gaal said: “We don’t have many injuries. Ashley Young is coming back, only now Michael Carrick has been injured. So he is out at the weekend”
He also confirmed that the injury is not a minor one as he is set to miss many matches during the course of his recovery. “I think it shall take more than four weeks, so it is not a minor injury but a muscle rupture, I think” Van Gaal added. “He is also the second captain but I have to say that’s part of the job of a manager, especially this season at Manchester United, because we have suffered a lot of injuries.
Although lately, Van Gaal has been pleased with the way the injuries has cleared up. “But now we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, Michael Carrick can be important for the team but he is now injured, so he cannot be,” he said.
This however will have no bearing on Fletcher moving to London, as Van Gaal confirmed in the press conference the player is currently at West Ham. Despite it, Van Gaal now has options in his midfield, as Daley Blind, who has started every game he has been available for this season, could move back into central midfield from left back at Carrick’s expense, while Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera are also available.
Image courtesy: Guardian