Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo could be sidelined for about six weeks, according to manager Louis van Gaal.
The Argentine suffered a dislocated shoulder in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat- a derby game which the ‘Red Devils’ finished with returning midfielder Michael Carrick and 19-year-old defender Paddy McNair taking to a central defence role.
The good news is that the 24-year-old does not require surgery but he is not expected to play until- probably- the third weekend of December, by which time United will have played the likes of Arsenal, Southampton, Liverpool and Newcastle.
“We don’t need to operate on him (Rojo), which is a relief, but maybe with this injury it is very difficult that it shall not happen again. That is the problem,” Van Gaal said in his pre-match media conference on Friday.
“Yesterday evening, he saw a specialist. For him, it was positive. Always with these injuries, I cannot change that. The human body has been made by God, not by me. Conservatively, it can be less than six weeks. If we have to operate, 12 weeks.”
Van Gaal also confirmed he has issues in defence ahead of Crystal Palace visit to Old Trafford on Saturday. The 10th-placed Premier League side will be without Radamel Falcao, Jonny Evans, Rafael da Silva and Phil Jones.
The Dutch boss, 63, explained: “Smalling is suspended (following his red card at the Etihad Stadium), Evans and Jones are still injured, so I have to solve a problem. I don’t want to say who is playing yet. If I say that (what United have done in training) then I give away what I’m trying to do. We’ve trained today but I may do things differently.”
Centre-back Evans has not played since injuring his ankle in the 5-2 defeat by Leicester City on September 21, Jones is out with shin splints he suffered in the 2-2 draw with West Brom.
