However, United have another five players on the casualty list, and Van Gaal revealed that he may take “risks” with several of them in a bid to end a run of five games without a win.
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Van Gaal saw his former prodigy Jose Mourinho axed by Chelsea on Thursday.
Van Gaal spoke of the “crazy” world of football when addressing the media on Friday, the day after Mourinho was sacked by the Premier League champions, but insisted he has the full backing of his players and United’s board.
United skipper Rooney has missed the last three games – against West Ham, Wolfsburg and Bournemouth – with an ankle injury, and without him the Red Devils have failed to win.
Key Opta stats: – Manchester United have kept six clean sheets in their last seven Premier league games at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits results must improve if he is to avoid becoming another managerial casualty.
“It’s been a hard time for us with some disappointing results but we’ll go forward with confidence and with our fans by our side, always trying to help us”.
When questioned about his dismissal, Van Gaal said: “What can I say?”
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has warned Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal that Jose Mourinho could replace him in the near future, London Evening Standard reports.
“It’s going to be a tough game at United, they haven’t lost a league game at home”, Neil said at his press conference ahead of the game. It is mad when you’re coming out to play in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford as you’d think I would be really nervous, but it doesn’t really hit me.
“We as a group are more than capable, if we play as well as we can, of putting back-to-back wins together”.
“We have to win because when you lose too much, also for me it’s the end of the world”.
As well as the return of Rooney, midfielder Ander Herrera is expected to return to the squad after missing five games with a hamstring injury.
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Jesse Lingard, who came off in last weekend’s 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, is unavailable, along with Matteo Darmian (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (foot) and Luke Shaw (leg).
