Rojo, Valencia return, but two miss United training

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that David de Gea will miss Manchester United’s Europa League last-32 clash with FC Midtjylland.

Borthwick-Jackson was withdrawn at half-time in Monday night’s FA Cup win over Shrewsbury but Smalling completed the full 90.

Louis Van Gaal is contending with a lengthy injury list with 14 first-team players all now sidelined, including Wayne Rooney, David De Gea and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

United have kept seven clean sheets in the 11 games in which the Argentine has featured this season, so Van Gaal will be delighted to learn he’s not far away from bolstering the club’s back-line.

With just 72 hours between European commitments and their game at home to Arsene Wenger’s side Van Gaal will be concerned at the prospect of being without the two keystones of his defence against an Arsenal side who tore United apart in the corresponding fixture in October. [Marcos] Rojo maybe, but that is dependable on other players.

However, the Dutchman says the side must rise above that and denied United should be beating the likes of Midtjylland more easily.

“They play with diagonal pressing”.

Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia returned to action for Manchester United this week in training to give us a much needed injury boost.

So it is not a good signal for Manchester United.

Set for Arsenal return, or more serious than first thought?