adminLONDON. — Manchester United are back in the midst of another defensive injury crisis amid fears that Marcos Rojo could be out for six weeks with a dislocated shoulder.
Rojo was carried off on a stretcher during United’s Manchester derby defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and needed oxygen at one point.
Further rests have confirmed the defender’s injury is a full dislocation and the recovery time could be six weeks or even longer. The exact times will depend on whether Rojo has torn or merely stretched the ligaments that usually hold the shoulder in place.
Rojo’s father appeared to confuse matters last night when he told a TV station in Argentina: “The injury is not too severe. He will miss two or three games.”
However, senior sources at Old Trafford confirmed on Monday that the injury was a dislocation and it seems improbable the £16 million signing could recover that quickly.
This means United manager Louis van Gaal will have to plan for the coming weeks of the campaign without the man he bought from Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
With fellow central defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans struggling with injuries ahead of Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match with Crystal Palace, and right back Rafael da Silva also on the sidelines, Van Gaal is expected to ask midfielder Michael Carrick to fill in.
Carrick has been told by Van Gaal to prepare for defensive duties on his return from his own long-term injury troubles.
The England international midfielder went straight into the centre of defence when he came on at City on Sunday and is ready to do so again against Palace.
Carrick said: “That position is not something I have played an awful lot. I have had spells of it, playing two or three or four games in a season.
“But if I need to play there then fine. I have not had a lot of football recently so I will play anywhere, I don’t mind.
“Ideally we just need to get players fit and have more options to choose from.”
United began the season with a host of injuries at the back, prompting Van Gaal to hand debuts to Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair.
Those problems were starting to ease but with Chris Smalling serving a one-game ban after a red card on Sunday, the United boss is back to square one.
On Monday night Carrick could only hope things will turn United’s way.
“We look at the points total and we are bitterly disappointed with the amount we have got,” he said. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter