According to the Mirror reporting that concerns
over Wayne Rooney’s fitness before the
upcoming Manchester derby are now
being played down as the Manchester
United club captain seems set to return
from both injury and suspension in time
to play this weekend. Radamel Falcao
seems set to return also as the Icon Michael
Carrick could also finally make his long-
awaited return after a long injury
layoff.
Rooney has been battling a foot injury
after damaging it in training, but the
Manchester United physio team have
been working around the clock to ensure
he returns to the side for a pivotal game
in the club’s season. A loss could see the
team essentially eliminated from the
title race already, whilst a win (or even
a draw away from home) could be seen
as a turning point for the club.
After being sent off for a reckless tackle
against West Ham, Rooney has served a
three game suspension and will be a
welcome addition to the Red Devils
squad. Falcao also will be in the mix for
the Manchester City clash after missing
the weekend’s draw with Chelsea, and as
a result Louis Van Gaal will have a
variety of options to choose from when
he picks his strike force for the clash at
the Etihad on Sunday.
Carrick hasn’t been rushed back into the
squad after a four-month layoff with an
ankle ligament injury, despite rumours
he would play a part in the Chelsea
clash. Former club captain and
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson
has warned Van Gaal against rushing
the midfield playmaker back too soon
however.
“The only thing the
manager has to be careful
of is, if there are a few
players coming back from
injury, you don’t want to
play too many of those sort
of players, who are a little
bit rusty. It’s going to be a
million miles an hour, a
derby game, loads of
passion and pace. So the
lads who have been playing
week in week out, are
probably more up to the
pace of the league.”
Robson makes an excellent point. You
can’t afford to have passengers in a
game of football, particularly one with
this much importance and of course
because it’s the Manchester derby. Van
Gaal knows this however and hasn’t
rushed Carrick back so far, his only time
on the pitch was against West Ham in an
under 21’s clash. But Carrick’s
importance to the club at Old Trafford
cannot be understated (look at his
importance in the last title victory), and
this was something Robson also chose to
touch on in his comments.
“I think Michael’s a big
miss to United. When he
was injured last season, he
was a big loss to us.”
The midfield general’s absence is
obvious. United have lacked the
composure in crucial moments that
Carrick provides. How Van Gaal would
have loved someone like Carrick when
the team was 3-1 up against Leicester
City. His return may not generate big
headlines outside of Old Trafford, but
there’s no doubt his return is as
important as Rooney’s or Falcao’s
coming into a massive game this
weekend for United.
What would be your thought according to the mirror....
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