Manchester United's injury worries continue to pile on as the 20-time English Premier League champions witnessed Dutch midfielder Daley Blind succumb to injury on Sunday.
On international duty, the 24-year-old Netherlands ace suffered a ligament injury in the Euro 2016 qualifying clash with Latvia in Amsterdam after a challenge with Eduards Visnakovs 20 minutes into the game.
Unable to complete the match, Blind hobbled off the pitch and was substituted as a result. Ending 6-0 in favor of the Oranje, national team coach Guus Hiddink confessed his worries over the former Ajax man's fitness after the final whistle, hinting at a possible six-week lay-off.
"It doesn't look good,” Hiddink revealed.
“It is his medial ligament. It could be a strain but also be a tear, so that is a big blow.”
.@Persie_Official netted after 6 minutes and claimed 2 assists but @BlindDaley was subbed on 20 minutes with a possible thigh injury. #mufc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 16, 2014
Daley Blind is set to have a scan on Monday to assess his injury, but is expected to be missing for 4-6 weeks. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/5zAwdQHAQt
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 16, 2014
The international break has proven costly for the Red Devils, already losing midfielder Michael Carrick, who came down with groin problem whilst away with the Three Lions.
Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, who has been in fine form in between the sticks for Manchester United, dislocated a finger during a training session with La Furia Roja, and could be sidelined for a month.
The Old Trafford trio are all expected to miss the club's all-important Emirates Stadium encounter with north London side Arsenal, on November 22.
Louis Van Gaal already has to cope without fellow summer signing Marcos Rojo, who dislocated his shoulder in the Manchester derby back in 2 November, with English defender Chris Smalling suspended for Saturday's game.
