adminMANCHESTER. — Manager Louis van Gaal said Manchester United have only one senior centre-back available for today’s English Premier League game against West Ham.
Marcos Rojo is fit, but Chris Smalling (leg), Phil Jones (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (ankle) are injured and Tyler Blackett is suspended.
Van Gaal said: “All three of my right-sided centre-halves are out, so I’ll have to go to the youth system.”
Potential candidates to play include Tom Thorpe (21) and Paddy McNair (19).
Neither Under-21 captain Thorpe nor McNair, who joined United as a midfielder three years ago, have played for the first team.
Smalling limped out of training on Wednesday and, with Luke Shaw expected to make his debut at left-back following his £28 million summer arrival from Southampton, Rojo is likely to move to centre-half against the Hammers.
“I won’t take risks with players — they have to be fit,” said Van Gaal, who is without nine players in total through injury.
Midfielders Daley Blind or Darren Fletcher could be employed as centre-backs by United, who are 12th in the table with only one win from their first five games. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter