Stoke City compound Louis Van Gaal's woes

Mark Hughes was surprised Van Gaal dropped Rooney for the first time during his 18-month spell as United boss.

Louis van Gaal has hinted that he may resign before being sacked as Manchester United manager, as reported by The Independent.

Hiddink's first match in charge ended in a 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Watford after Oscar missed a second-half penalty that could have secured back-to-back wins.

Louis van Gaal has taken the brunt of the blame for ­United's slump, during which they have dropped to fifth in the Premier League, nine points adrift of leaders Leicester. For United, none of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo or Jesse Lingard have recovered from their injuries, and so join long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia on the sidelines.

"You can single anybody out when you are in these situations, but the only way to get through this is to work hard, stick together and keep believing it will turn for us, and it has to turn for us in the next game".

Van Gaal's future is looking increasingly uncertain after a run of six matches in all competitions without a victory, coupled with a series of uninspiring performances.

A day after British astronaut Tim Peake displayed a Stoke flag on the International Space Station, the central England team was in a different orbit to United in the first half.

Depay, a winger in the right back position, was unaware that Glen Johnson was primed to dart in and seize possession before crossing for Krkic, who took a touch then slotted the ball into the net in the 19th minute.

The 20-times English champions have always been associated with swashbuckling attacking football but, apart from a brief flurry after the break when Van Gaal brought captain Wayne Rooney off the bench having omitted him for "tactical reasons", they were woefully short.

Van Gaal admitted he has a big challenge in motivating his players to end the poor run of results.

And the mission facing United became even tougher seven minutes later.

United dominated possession following Rooney's introduction and were denied a route back into the game as Butland produced an excellent point-blank save to thwart Marouane Fellaini after the Belgian had met the England skipper's low delivery. His mood would have darkened further had Arnautovic scored another when through on goal moments later but luckily for United, the Austrian shot wide.

It was a hapless first-half performance, and Van Gaal questioned why his players "don't dare to play football". "That's a good signal", added Van Gaal.

In the closing minutes, Rooney this time set up Juan Mata but again Butland made the vital save.

United visit Hughes' Stoke in the Premier League this lunchtime - and are desperately in need of a win to lift them out of their current crisis. United is three points adrift of fourth-place Tottenham.

Luke Shaw: Gives positive update

NEWS UPDATE

Shaw (leg) has given a positive injury update as he continues his recovery from a broken leg, Manchester Evening News reports.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS

Shaw says his leg feels really good, coming after just three months from suffering his double fracture of his right leg. However, the 20-year-old is not expected to return to first-team fitness until March at the earliest.

England's young guns give Roy Hodgson plenty to smile about

Roy Hodgson said the future of English football was bright after his side completed a clean sweep in qualifying for next summer's European Championship in France.

England beat Lithuania 3-0 in Vilnius on Monday night to make it 10 wins out of 10 in Group E - the first time they had achieved such a feat in qualifying for the Euros - and Hodgson said he was delighted with his side's display at the LFF Stadium.

"We are very pleased with that, of course," the England manager told Sky Sports after the game. "I think the way we approached the game and stamped our authority from the first minute meant we were not often in danger of not winning the game.

"I thought the team approached the game in exactly the right way. I said to them before the game: 'This is a great opportunity, I believe in you and am excited to see you play.' And I was not let down at all.

"I thought the quality of our football was very, very good and even towards the end we were working very hard to win the ball back when we lost it, despite the fact we were 3-0 up and we could have been even more goals ahead."

England have now joined France (twice), Czech Republic, Spain and Germany in having won every qualifying fixture ahead of a European Championship, although Hodgson played down that fact.

Hodgson praised the display of Ross Barkley, who opened the scoring in Lithuania

"Omens are always nice," he said. "But the fact is you only win matches or get good records like this one when you are doing it on the field, so we have some interesting matches coming up now that we are looking forward to against some quality opposition.

"And I think that will be a test for us and highlight elements of our play that we have to work even harder on."

The biggest positive on the road to Euro 2016, though, as far as Hodgson was concerned was the emergence of so many young and exciting players, all of who will now be challenging for a place at next summer's tournament.

Danny Ings made his England debut against Lithuania

"But it is quite incredible that I think so many players tonight are playing, if not their first game for England, then one of their first few games for England," Hodgson said.

"Phil Jagielka captains the team and for them to go out and give that type of performance, it does give me great heart that we do have players coming through in this country, we do have quality footballers.

"And if and when we get the players back who helped us, certainly at the start of the campaign, then we will have a strong squad to choose from. These players tonight will certainly feel they have done enough to keep their names at the front of my thinking and the thinking of the coaches and that is all I can ask from them.

"That is how it should be [a selection headache]. A lot of the time we have been wise with players and rested them.

"For example, on this occasion at least four or five players who would have made the starting line-up were rested, because I am always complaining about the amount of games players have to play in the Premier League and how often the games come up.

"So when I have a chance to give them a little rest, I have tried to do so, so that will account to some extent for the amount of players we have used."

In particular, Hodgson highlighted the performances of both Ross Barkley, who opened the scoring, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored England's third goal, against Lithuania.

"Ross Barkley had an excellent game at Wembley [against Estonia on Friday] and we were really pleased to see him continue in that fine form and the form he has actually been showing for Everton as well - I know that Everton are really happy with his performances," he said.

"With Alex, it is always a case of how much football does he get? He has not always played in the Premier League, so it was nice that he could get the whole 90 minutes tonight, and with the 20 minutes the other night, at least he has now got some football under his belt. And when he gets the chance to play, he shows the talent for which we select him."

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who netted England's third goal, also caught Hodgon's eye in Vilnius

And in the injury-enforced absence of John Stones and Luke Shaw in Vilnius, Hodgson was also quick to praise full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Kyle Walker.

"I thought the two full-backs against Estonia [Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand] did well, and I thought the two full-backs tonight did well, which was important as we did not have Stones and Shaw, two players who we were really counting on going forward. But we think we will get Stones back, even for the November fixtures.

"And for Luke, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that he recovers quicker than can possibly be expected and that it is not too late for him for next summer, because he is a very, very exciting talent and a left-back who would certainly cause a lot of competition in the squad were he to be fit."

Portuguese star reveals flattery at Man United links

Reported Manchester United target Paulo Oliveira has revealed he is flattered to be linked with a move the English giants, according to the Metro.

The Sporting Lisbon defender has been linked with a move to Old Trafford following a sterling start to the season in the Portuguese capital.

The club have remained undefeated in their league campaign, and the 23-year old has been a huge part of the success at centre-back.

Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal is reportedly keen, and in need of defensive cover following the horrific injury to Luke Shaw last month, which will keep the England defender out of action for around six months.

When asked about the interest, the Portuguese international stated ‘it’s a good sign.’

‘I have to continue to work harder and not fall asleep’, he added.

With Marcos Rojo linked with a move away, United’s backline could be given a completely new look when the transfer window reopens in January.

Club Top Scorer Becomes Second Liverpool Player To Suffer Season-Ending Injury This Week

Jurgen Klopp already had a massive challenge on his hands in trying to revive Liverpool’s season. That task has now become that little bit more difficult with news that Danny Ings is to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. 

Sky Sports report that the former Burnley man ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a regular training session at Liverpool’s training ground on Wednesday in what was the first session under new boss Klopp for many of the Reds’ internationals, Ings included, who only made his debut on Monday against Lithuania.

Ings now joins compatriot Joe Gomez, who suffered the exact same injury while playing for England’s under-21 side this week, giving Klopp a headache in terms of squad depth at the very least.

The timing of both injuries is particularly cruel. Gomez was just beginning to make a name for himself as a first team player and must now start all over again, and under new management.

Ings was bought to be drafted into the Liverpool starting XI immediately, but it too comes as a massive blow to the 23-year-old, who is now in a race to be fit to have any minute hope of featuring in next summer’s Euros following his first call-up.

Much like Luke Shaw of Man United, it remains to be seen whether or not Roy Hodgson would be willing to take a risk on youngsters just returning from injury, and in Ings’ case there is every possibility he may not even be match ready by next summer after suffering an injury as serious as this.

Sky say the recent England debutant will undergo surgery on his knee next week.

Louis van Gaal Delighted With Manchester United’s Response Against Everton

“My performances and lack of goals here over the years have disappointed me, but I’ve scored today and I’m glad to get the victory”.

Louis van Gaal says he is “very proud” of his Manchester United team after they were in superb form, beating Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. “He is the best English player in English history and we are lucky to have him”, the Spaniard said about his teammate.

Rooney added the third when Herrera slid him through after a horrendous pass from Phil Jagielka, racing away before beating Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

Speaking to MUTV after the final whistle, van Gaal said, “I am very happy with the response of my players and I am very proud of the performance”.

“I have a lot of meetings, individual and team meetings, 10 or 15 between Wednesday and this match and then you have to decide who is playing because of the opponent and the state of your players”.

The Argentine, who at one point looked as though he had no future at United, played at left-back due to Luke Shaw’s long-term absence with a broken leg and performed extremely well.

Over the course of the 90 minutes at Goodison Park, hosts Everton had 47% of the possession, took 12 shots of which just three were on target, and earned five corners.

The loss was the Blues’ first since Man City won 2-0 at Goodison in late August and Galloway, who started that game, says their city rivals are the best team Everton have played this term.

“This was the way we had to react after Arsenal”.

The Belgian nearly closed down David de Gea when he was sold short by two backpasses in the first six minutes. We controlled the game and created chances.

The 20-year-old is expected to miss the majority of this season following the horrific double fracture he suffered against PSV Eindhoven last month.

Herrera was a 2014 signing from Athletic Bilbao but United bought two other central midfielders this summer, in Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. When the club sign top players it is a challenge and you have to gain from it. “That is insane but now I think he shall score more”.

Manchester United injury news: Louis van Gaal gives surprising update on Luke Shaw rehabilitation

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted surprise at Luke Shaw's injury progress after the defender started walking with braces just one month after he suffered a double leg break during the Red Devils' champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven. The former Southampton defender has been ruled out for six months by the manager after undergoing two bouts of surgery.

The 22-year-old defender, who had a difficult debut season at Old Trafford, had been the 20-time English champions' best player until the injury wrecked his 2015/16 campaign. Shaw had established himself as Van Gaal's first choice left-back and was on the way to nailing his place down in the England team as well. The young defender, however, will have to start from square one following the injury, but has handed everyone at the club a boost by returning to begin his rehabilitation ahead of schedule.

The former Bayern Munich manager claims that it is 'unbelievable' to see the defender at the club's Carrington training complex every day, but has called for patience when it comes to his actual return to training with the first team. The manager believes that the defender has a long road ahead in his recovery process, and believes that his participation with England at the European Championships in France next year is '50-50' due to the possibility of injury setbacks delaying his recovery.

"He is already here every day, walking with a brace and starting his rehabilitation. It is unbelievable. But he has a long way to go. At the moment, the progress is steep, but at the end it will be flat and that is difficult to maintain your mentality. But now he is fantastic," Van Gaal said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"You cannot say that now he can go. Like Roy Hodgson says 50-50 because it is possible, but it is dependent on the rehabilitation. Maybe there are complications, you never know, that happens a lot so we have to wait and see," the Dutch manager added.