Louis van Gaal has poured cold water over suggestions Radamel Falcao is ready to return to the starting line-up against Hull City tomorrow. The Manchester United manager said the striker, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, did not complete a full two weeks of training required to make the starting line up. ‘Falcao is not ready,’ Van Gaal told the club’s website. However the Dutchman conceded Falcao may be on the bench. ‘I need strikers now, so maybe he is in the 18’.
The Colombian striker last played for United on October 20, in the 2-2 draw with West Brom, and has yet to complete a full match for the club since his loan move from Monaco. Van Gaal also ruled Jonny Evans out of contention for tomorrow’s game at Old Trafford. The defender had played in a reserve game this week, but, again, Van Gaal prefers players returning from injury to complete a full training schedule before being considered eligible to return to action. ‘When you are out of the running for so long and not training with your fellow players and only running because of the injury, one week of training sessions is not sufficient to develop match rhythm’. The Northern Irishman has been sidelined the past two months with an ankle injury.
Van Gaal also dismissed fears over the magnitude of Luke Shaw’s injury. ‘There is no serious complications, ‘ he said. ‘He has sustained an ankle injury. He will be out for the next few weeks because of this’. The United manager said Marco Rojo could potentially make the matchday squad. The Argentine has been out of the team since dislocating his shoulder against Manchester City at the beginning of November.
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