Football
9y

Van Persie a doubt for United vs. Preston, Rooney could play up front

Robin van Persie could miss Manchester United's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Preston on Monday, with Louis van Gaal considering moving captain Wayne Rooney back into the forward line to replace him.

Van Gaal has revealed Van Persie is a doubt for the game at Deepdale, in which the Premier League side could be without four players.

The striker scored a penalty in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Burnley but has sustained an injury, while Phil Jones is unlikely to play and Daley Blind faces a fitness test.

"I think Jones shall be difficult to play on Monday," Van Gaal told a news conference.

"It looks as though it is not a heavy injury. We will have to see how Blind recovers.

"Robin van Persie has also something so now I have given the players a day off and only the injured players have visited our training centre, but the doctor hasn't called me yet [with updates] so I cannot say anything."

Jones suffered an ankle problem, while Blind had stitches near his eye after taking a knock as both came off in the first half against Burnley.

Michael Carrick, who has missed the last four games with a muscle injury, remains out and has suffered a setback.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has been criticised lately for using Rooney, the third highest goalscorer in United's history, in midfield when the club's other strikers have been struggling.

However, while the England captain has not begun a match as a striker since December, Van Gaal said he might move him further forward on Monday.

"It could be that I play him in a striker's position in the next match," he told MUTV. "It is always in our consideration."

United face League One or League Two opposition on Monday for the third time in the FA Cup this season after seeing off Yeovil and Cambridge.

And while Van Gaal accepts neutrals will want League One side Preston to win, he believes the draw has given his side a wonderful opportunity to progress.

He added: "We have to play now for the third time [against] a lower team. You know the world is against you. Everything, the environment, is for the underdog. You have confirmed it.

"That is more difficult to accept but the chance you can survive is higher because you are playing against a team with lower qualities. You have to be the team with big motivation and in the atmosphere that everybody is against you."

^ Back to Top ^