Manchester United Team News: Van Gaal optimistic about Shaw return, full squad available for Leicester showdown

Manchester United finally have a fit and ready squad for manager Louis van Gaal to pick his best starting XI from ahead of their showdown against Leicester City on Sunday. 

 

The Red Devils have had an injury-plagued 2015-2016 season, with a number of key players being ruled out at important stages of the season. At one point, Manchester United had as many as 14 first team players out with injury, which forced manager Louis van Gaal to dig deep into the youth team for backup.

Those woes seem to have been alleviated now, as the manager stated that there were no fresh concerns ahead of their important clash against league leaders Leicester City.

“We don’t have any injuries, except Shaw, who is already not injured any more but is building up, and Schweinsteiger,” said the Dutchman according to the official Manchester United website.

Van Gaal was optimistic about Luke Shaw, who has been out with a broken leg since September, and hoped that he would be fit enough to play in the FA Cup final later this month.

“He can, maybe, but it shall be difficult because he has to play first a lot of matches in the second team. We have to wait and see because you cannot say anything. It’s going very well with him.”

Fellaini to continue in Manchester United midfield

Van Gaal is expected to field the same line-up that managed to beat Everton in the semi-final of the FA Cup. The inspirational David de Gea will be in goal, behind a back four of Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Chris Smalling and the academy graduate Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Central midfield will see the pairing of veteran Michael Carrick and Belgian Marouane Fellaini. Manchester United will have three strikers up front, but Marcus Rashford will take up the lone striker’s role as Wayne Rooney falls into a deeper midfield position. Meanwhile, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard are expected to flank Rashford from either side of the pitch.

Manchester United finally have a fit and ready squad for manager Louis van Gaal to pick his best starting XI from ahead of their showdown against Leicester City on Sunday. 

 

The Red Devils have had an injury-plagued 2015-2016 season, with a number of key players being ruled out at important stages of the season. At one point, Manchester United had as many as 14 first team players out with injury, which forced manager Louis van Gaal to dig deep into the youth team for backup.

Those woes seem to have been alleviated now, as the manager stated that there were no fresh concerns ahead of their important clash against league leaders Leicester City.

“We don’t have any injuries, except Shaw, who is already not injured any more but is building up, and Schweinsteiger,” said the Dutchman according to the official Manchester United website.

Van Gaal was optimistic about Luke Shaw, who has been out with a broken leg since September, and hoped that he would be fit enough to play in the FA Cup final later this month.

“He can, maybe, but it shall be difficult because he has to play first a lot of matches in the second team. We have to wait and see because you cannot say anything. It’s going very well with him.”

Fellaini to continue in Manchester United midfield

Van Gaal is expected to field the same line-up that managed to beat Everton in the semi-final of the FA Cup. The inspirational David de Gea will be in goal, behind a back four of Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Chris Smalling and the academy graduate Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Central midfield will see the pairing of veteran Michael Carrick and Belgian Marouane Fellaini. Manchester United will have three strikers up front, but Marcus Rashford will take up the lone striker’s role as Wayne Rooney falls into a deeper midfield position. Meanwhile, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard are expected to flank Rashford from either side of the pitch.

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