MANCHESTER UNITED LATEST UPDATE- LOUIS VAN GAAL OPTIMISTIC ON THE RETURN OF INJURED DUO
01/03/2016 15:43, Report by Adam Marshall
VAN GAAL EXPECTS DUO TO RETURN
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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed Anthony Martial and Matteo Darmian are ready to return to action in Wednesday's Barclays Premier League clash with Watford.
French striker Martial felt his hamstring in the warm-up to the Europa League second-leg clash with Midtjylland and has seen Marcus Rashford deputise in remarkable fashion, with four goals in his first two appearances. Darmian will also face competition for a right-back place with Guillermo Varela one of the stand-out performers in the victory over Arsenal, although either could also operate on the opposite flank.
A late decision will be made on the availability of Chris Smalling, who has been out since picking up an injury during a collision with the advertising hoardings during the Emirates FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town.
"Players are coming back in March, I think," the boss told MUTV. "We need players who are coming back because our programme is very full.
"Martial can play and also Darmian can play. Maybe Chris Smalling can play. We have to wait and see for tomorrow."
Michael Carrick has been filling in at centre-back alongside Daley Blind in the absence of Smalling while left-back Marcos Rojo hobbled off at the weekend.
"We have to build players up," van Gaal added. "You have seen how I did it with Marcos Rojo - 20 minutes and, the second time, 60 minutes, though he did not reach that. So it's not so easy. Playing in the second team is also a possibility.
"It was a kick [for Rojo]. A lot of players receive kicks and they can play the next match."
United are looking to record a fourth successive victory in all competitions after a timely return to form, with the 3-2 win over the Gunners thrilling the Old Trafford crowd on Sunday, and the overall picture on the injury front is looking more positive too.
"[Marouane] Fellaini and [Antonio] Valencia are the first ones to come back, I think," added van Gaal at his pre-match press conference. "Except, of course, Martial and Smalling and Darmian - they are coming back, maybe already tomorrow. It depends how they feel tomorrow, but the chance is there that one of these three players already plays.
"Fellaini shall come into the last step of the process of team training, and also Valencia today has trained with the group, so they are coming back. Wayne Rooney is still in a brace."
MUTV will show the full interview with van Gaal on Wednesday in Match Day Preview at 17:00 GMT and Match Day Live at 18:00 GMT. MUTV is the only place to watch the match in full in the UK from midnight.
Official Members can buy up to four tickets for this important match. Not yet a Member? Join today from just £20 (for Official Membership Lite) and secure your seats at the same time. For more information, call 0161 868 8000 or visit manutd.com/membership.
