No Rooney, but Zlatan to return: How Manchester United will line up against Chelsea

Jose Mourinho's likely to make changes for his Stamford Bridge return, with Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those set to come back in

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is likely to shuffle his pack again on Sunday, as the Portuguese tactician prepares to renew acquaintances with former employers Chelsea.

The likes of Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney were all returned to the first-team on Thursday for Europa League duty – and impressed in a comfortable 4-1 victory over Fenerbahce at Old Trafford.

Chelsea, though, will provide an entirely different test – especially at Stamford Bridge. With that in mind, Mourinho can be expected to put his faith in a tried and tested starting XI.

The back five have looked solid this season, and collected another clean sheet against Liverpool on Monday, while Paul Pogba was back to his buccaneering best on Thursday.

Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford will add pace and guile supporting Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with club captain Rooney once again having to make do with a spot on the bench.

more games: friv

Mourinho bashing must stop - Man Utd's youth clearout is brutal but necessary

The United boss has thus far given no Premier League minutes to Marcus Rashford while he's allowed other prospects to leave but there could be a positive outcome in the long-term

For some, this has been a concerning week so far for Manchester United. The optimism and overwhelming joy pouring from Old Trafford on Friday as Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic starred against Southampton has been curbed somewhat by events which have followed in the transfer market and within the youth ranks.

The decision by Jose Mourinho not to introduce Marcus Rashford from the bench for a second successive game already had some Reds raising their eyebrows, and the subsequent sale of Tyler Blackett to Reading and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s loan move to Wolves have further concerned those who consider United’s youth development as central to the club’s future.

Monday’s under-23 loss to Southampton at St Mary’s caused more ire, with many asking why the likes of Andreas Pereira, Memphis Depay, Rashford and Will Keane were not included. Players who are not getting first-team minutes right now are getting no minutes at all, it seems.

For Rashford in particular the lack of game time is set to have almost immediate consequences, with England manager Sam Allardyce admitting he can see no justification to call upon last season’s breakout star despite his positive experience at Euro 2016.

“Rashford is not playing now so it makes it harder for me to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene,” Allardyce said this week.

“At such a young age, do I say, ‘Go and play in the under-21s, get used to international football there, play regularly there and it will help you eventually, hopefully to break into the Manchester United team and then break into the England senior team’? You've got all those scenarios to consider.”

It all comes after a summer during which Mourinho was forced to defend his record with young players. Following on from Louis van Gaal, who gave over 100 appearances last season to academy products, there were demands for the Portuguese to make the most of the youngsters who had provided the bright spots of the Dutchman’s otherwise-underwhelming reign. A £160 million spending spree later, there is little sign of those home-grown talents.

But the exits of Blackett and Borthwick-Jackson, added to the loans of Guillermo Varela, Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson and permanent departures of Paddy McNair and Donald Love, leave United with only a handful of young stars to turn to this season. Other than Jesse Lingard and Rashford, only Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Pereira, Keane, Joe Riley, Regan Poole and James Weir remain at the club of those who featured at one stage or another last term, and some of them are expected to be offloaded temporarily before the transfer window closes.

Those immediately levelling criticism at Mourinho’s model need to consider the fact that Van Gaal also offloaded a huge number of former academy products. What’s more, he loaned out Januzaj and Blackett himself, handed a minimal amount of games to Pereira, and only called upon Rashford when he had no other option. While the 65-year-old could rightly boast about his decision to give Lingard the chance to express himself at first-team level, the successes of Borthwick-Jackson and Rashford were altogether more accidental.

Borthwick-Jackson will gain more from spending time at Wolves this season than from sitting and waiting for Luke Shaw to lose form. Pereira will be better served heading to a Fulham than spending another campaign tallying League Cup starts and little else. The sight of some of United’s greatest young hopes in other clubs’ jerseys may have people worrying about what the future holds, but they still have a big part to play so long as they can prove to Mourinho that they are ready.

“Mourinho has told me I’ve got a future there, he sees a future for me,” Borthwick-Jackson explained after completing his Wolves loan move. “So that’s what I’m looking to do, gain experience and then start [at United].”

For those still at Old Trafford, such as Rashford and Memphis, they have to trust the manager when he says their chance will come in September when the League Cup and Europa League start to bulk up the calendar. And in the meantime, they must make the most of getting to train every day with some of the world’s best players.

And for Borthwick-Jackson, Januzaj et al there is the knowledge that Mourinho has far from washed his hands of them. McNair, Blackett and Love are no longer Manchester United players but the club is not willing to repeat the mistake made with Paul Pogba when it comes to players they still believe have a part to play.

The bottom line at the moment is that United have made a bid to arrest their first-team slide in welcoming Mourinho and adding the likes of Pogba and Ibrahimovic. They want to get back to winning ways and quick, but that doesn’t mean they will sacrifice the progress of their future first-teamers.

If they approach their new realities in a professional manner, then the likes of Borthwick-Jackson and Rashford will get their chance again. And when they do so, it will be in a winning Manchester United XI rather than Van Gaal’s underwhelming outfit of last season.

Shaw returns to Man Utd training after 10 months out

The left-back broke his leg against PSV in September but is in line to make his comeback for the new campaign after working out under the eye of new boss Jose Mourinho.

Luke Shaw is back in training with Manchester United 10 months after breaking his leg in a Champions League match against PSV.

The left-back has not featured at all since the incident and was not fit enough for a place in England's squad at Euro 2016.

He is in line to make his comeback at the start of the new season, however, and has worked out in front of Jose Mourinho this week as the ex-Chelsea kicked off United's preparation.

Shaw signed for the Red Devils for around £30 million from Southampton in 2014 and had started every league game of the 2015-16 season until his injury.

New signings Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly have also been present on the training ground, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the rest of United's Euro 2016 players still on holiday.

Luke Shaw sends Mourinho a Manchester United fitness update on Instagram

The Man Utd defender missed a huge chunk of last season after breaking his leg in the Champions League.

Luke Shaw has assured new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho he will be raring to go for the new season.

The England left-back missed nine months of action after breaking his leg against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in September last year.

He was in contention for a surprise return in the FA Cup final but missed out - and was too late to make it into Roy Hodgson's England squad for France 2016.

But the 20-year-old is back in training and will use the summer months to make sure he is in top shape for the start of the Mourinho era.

And he used his Instagram account to say "I'll be ready" along side a photograph of him in United training gear.

He said recently: "Day by day I am getting better and fitter."

Hopeful Luke Shaw Injury Update- “getting better and fitter”

Luke Shaw spoke to MUTV regarding the progress he is making in order to come back to play with the first team before the season ends.

The 20-year-old right-back has been out since September, following his double leg-break in the Champions League. Shaw admitted he feels more confident with everyday practice and is excited to perform before the season ends.

Shaw has appreciated the work of the physios, which has helped him recover from the horrifying injury. “I am back outside now, still with the physios but, day by day, I am getting better and fitter. I am just going to push now, until the end of the season and see what happens,” said Luke Shaw.

Luke Shaw’s recovery has been commendable, 7 months of patience and hard work of both the player and physios has finally paid off. May be not this season, but surely next season Luke Shaw will play a crucial role in Manchester United’s squad. At the beginning of the season, he did earn his place in first team by proving his worth as an attacking full-back.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal defends methods, philosophy and results

Louis van Gaal has defended his methods, philosophy and results as Manchester United prepare for a week that could determine the manager's future.

It seemed the Reds had turned the corner and belatedly found some consistency, with a four-match winning run complemented by home-grown teenager Marcus Rashford's remarkable emergence.

The feel-good factor at Old Trafford has proved short-lived, though, with United's Champions League hopes seriously dented by back-to-back losses.

Sunday's uninspiring 1-0 defeat at West Brom diminished their top-four hopes and a tepid display at Anfield saw the Reds' chances of qualifying through the Europa League narrow on Thursday.

Turning around the 2-0 last-16 loss is a big ask when Liverpool arrive for the second leg - a match bookended by a Premier League trip to rivals Manchester City and, firstly, an FA Cup quarter-final at home to West Ham.

Those matches could go a long way to determining under-fire Van Gaal's future, even if the Dutchman did not want to talk about it ahead of Sunday's match.

"I don't want to discuss that with you because you are not part of the people who will determine," Van Gaal said.

"This (defeat to Liverpool) of course gives us much more pressure.

"We are in three competitions and after the defeat in Midjytlland you have sacked me already and then we are standing up, and then we are in the next round and it is possible also against Liverpool.

"We have to play that match for the second time and then at home and then we create that atmosphere and then maybe we score some goals. It shall be very difficult, I know that, but it is possible.

"It is not impossible. Against West Ham United, it is also possible. At Old Trafford, we (would) normally win our games."

Van Gaal bristled when asked how many times United had played the way he wanted - "you are now very negative" - and rejected the accusation that United had fallen short in his time at the helm.

"I think it is working," he said. "The style is also working.

"It is not giving the best results. It is not good enough when you think you have to be a champion. Or win the Euro League or the FA Cup.

"It is still possible, but when you see this game (against Liverpool), you can say what you are saying but when you analyse what we have done this season and the other season, then you cannot say that.

"I cannot change your mind because you are thinking (it already) otherwise you don't put the question to me."

Juan Mata will miss the quarter-final through suspension.

Jesse Lingard returns to the squad having served a ban in the clash with Liverpool, while Adnan Januzaj and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are available having been ineligible for Thursday's match.

Wayne Rooney (knee), Luke Shaw (leg), Ashley Young (groin/pelvis) and Will Keane (groin) remain absent, but Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are nearing a return.

Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic claims Michail Antonio is a shining example of the gems available in the lower leagues.

The 25-year-old was a surprise B£7million deadline-day arrival at West Ham, having finally reached the top flight via Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.

Antonio had to bide his time to make an impact at Upton Park with just one brief substitute appearance in his first three months at the club.

But a spate of injuries gave the winger his chance and he has grabbed it with both hands, scoring seven goals and becoming one of West Ham's key figures in their rise to fifth in the Premier League.

Antonio could even cap a dream first season at the club with a Wembley appearance if they can get past United at Old Trafford.

And Bilic believes there are plenty more players capable of following the likes of Antonio and Leicester's Jamie Vardy up the football pyramid.

"There are, definitely, it's not only him," said the Hammers boss. "There are a few players. We also have Sam Byram who came few months ago and is doing great.

"Antonio is the biggest example for all the guys playing in lower divisions. Not to mention Jamie Vardy. There are definitely some really good players especially if you surround them with more quality players, like Antonio is.

"He benefits from that and we benefit from that situation. And he deserves it."

Enner Valencia, Victor Moses and Joey O'Brien are available for the tie.

Valencia has recovered from a sprained ankle, Moses is fit after a quad injury and O'Brien has shaken off hamstring trouble.

Winston Reid is close to returning after a hamstring problem but the Old Trafford clash is likely to come too soon, while fellow defenders James Tomkins (calf) and James Collins (hamstring) are still injured and Sam Byram is cup-tied.

Manchester United vs. West Ham 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online

West Ham have gotten into a habit of toppling giants this season, and they might again in the FA Cup.

The FA Cup is churning along, and with Manchester United desperate to havesomething to be happy about this season, this is a chance for them to work off some stress and get a much needed boost in confidence and head towards a concrete, positive goal to accomplish this season. Except this won't be that easy, because West Ham have picked up a reputation for knocking down the big teams in the Premier League this season, and now they have a chance to do it again.

Time and again, Slaven Bilic's squad has risen to the occasion and put on a memorable performance against teams that no one gave them a chance against, winning game after game while giving the titans of the league bloody noses and split lips. This is a chance for them to do it again, and with higher stakes than just your average Premier League matchday on the line. If they can knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup, that will be quite a feather in West Ham's cap.

Key player -- Dimitri Payet (West Ham)

When he's been healthy, Payet has been a singular force in English football, an attacking force both in terms of chance creation for his teammates and in scoring some pretty spectacular goals himself. He's an incredible talent and Manchester United don't really have much in the way of a player who's sure to stop him, and if they can't so much as slow him down then they're in a heaping mountain of trouble.

Key matchup -- Ander Herrera (Manchester United) vs. Pedro Obiang (West Ham)

Obiang's playing time has been as inconsistent as his form this season, but the young Spanish midfielder has been eye-openingly impressive at times. With as strong and athletic as he is, he's capable of doing some very impressive things in the defensive phase of midfield play, something West Ham will need in order to keep Herrera and Manchester's possession game in check. The more he can harry and keep pressure on Herrera, the better chance that West Ham can force mistakes from Manchester's midfield and, hopefully, punish them for those mistakes.

Manchester United injuries and suspensions

Out: Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Will Keane, Luke Shaw In doubt: Phil Jones, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

West Ham United injuries and suspensions

Out: James Collins, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Carl Jenkinson In doubt: Victor Moses, Enner Valencia, Joey O'Brien

Match Date/Time: Sunday, noon ET, 4 p.m. local

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), BT Sport 2 (U.K.)

Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.)

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.