Ahead of the crucial match, the Red Devils will miss the services of their top strikers Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial due to injury. Martial picked up an injury playing for France against England at Wembley last Tuesday, while Rooney is said to be suffering from an unknown illness.
However, Man United boss Louis Van Gaal is optimistic that the two key players will be fit enough to play against PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford next week in their Champions League fixture. Speaking to MUTV, the 64-year-old tactician explained:
"It’s not as heavy as everybody has written in the media, but he [Rooney] cannot play against Watford.
“Maybe PSV for Martial but it's not certain, and I think Rooney shall also play then because illness is not something that lasts for many days. And Valencia, of course, has been operated on before the international break already, then [Luke] Shaw, so we have five injured players, and that's a lot.”
Rooney and Martial celebrate a goal for Manchester United in a previous Premier League match
Manchester United are facing major injury concerns that could affect their already-unpredictable performance before the official opening of the January transfer window. Other injured players include Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, James Wilson and Antonio Valencia.
The 20-year-old was spotted leaving the Wembley Stadium in cruches after the friendly match against England
Speaking about the rest of the injured players, the Man United boss added:
"Valencia, of course, was operated on before the international break, then [Luke] Shaw, so we have five injured players, and that's a lot.''
“Wilson is okay after the international break. He can play but he cannot play a whole match because he doesn't have the rhythm of the game.”
The 20-time Premier League champions sit at the fourth position in the table, with two points off league leaders Manchester City, who will face an acid test against bitter rivals Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
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