Van Gaal delivers team news for Sunderland

 

Louis van Gaal has confirmed Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is ready to return for the Reds against Sunderland this weekend, but new signing Marcos Rojo is one of a number of players unavailable.

 

Van Persie did not travel to the summer tour of the USA, instead being given extra time off to recover after helping the van Gaal's Netherlands finish third at the World Cup. However, the boss has revealed he is back to full fitness and in contention to play on Sunday.

"Robin is ready to play, so that is a big benefit for our team," van Gaal said in his pre-match press conference. "I'm very happy that he is now able to play."

Unfortunately new arrival Rojo has not yet received a work permit, while Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard have all been ruled out through injury.

"Rojo is fit and ready to play but he doesn't have a work permit so we have to wait," explained van Gaal. 

"Last week, we had nine injuries and now we have seven. It's much too much. I have had this as a manager for the first time. We have to live with this. We have four injured midfielders – Carrick, from the beginning, but now also Herrera, Fellaini and Lingard. So these four are injured and we are thin on midfielders now.