Louis van Gaal has no further injury worries ahead of the Manchester Derby against City on Sunday.
Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair are out with long-term injuries, and Ashley Young has recovered from the injury he suffered before the international break against Arsenal, but has been deemed short of match fitness and will not play a part at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“Ashley Young has had three weeks out of training sessions so cannot play against City,” van Gaal said.
The United manager is happy that his squad is relatively free of injuries and therefore has more options for his team selection this weekend.
It’s always better that a manager can select from a lot of players,” the Dutchman said. “There have been times when I could not select from many, like last year, but this year is going much better.
van Gaal also hopes that his side can recover from the gruelling midweek trip to Moscow, where they drew 1-1 with CSKA in the Champions League.
“I think we shall recover from the Moscow trip. The talk of the town is this match,” the boss said.
We’ve done everything to help the recovery of the players. We didn’t train too hard today, to avoid injuries. We have one day less [to prepare after Moscow flight] but we have to do it and that’s what we’re doing. We hope we can beat City.
Finally, van Gaal reckons that City are favourites for the derby on Sunday.
If you look at the facts, they are first. We are second or third, there is a goal difference and a point difference, so I think they are the favourites.
