• Premier League

United handed Van Persie boost

ESPN staff
September 14, 2012
Robin van Persie will lead the line for Manchester United © PA Photos
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Manchester United have been handed some mixed injury news, with Robin van Persie passed fit for the clash with Wigan but Phil Jones has been ruled out for 10 weeks.

Van Persie emerged as an injury doubt after picking up a thigh injury on international duty with Netherlands. He returned to Manchester for assessment and the club's medical staff have given him the green light.

Shinji Kagawa is another to be passed fit following a scare, but Jones is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The defender underwent surgery on a knee injury and he is not likely to return until December.

"On the injury front, everyone's fit, apart from the ones we know about - Jones and Smalling," Ferguson said at a press conference on Friday. "Jones was a bad blow for us. He got an injury in training last weekend and he'll be out for eight to 10 weeks.

"We expect Smalling to be back training by the end of the month. There's a little bit of comfort in that sense, given our centre-back situation. But with Jonny [Evans] back we're in a better position than we were a couple of weeks ago."

Darren Fletcher has been handed a place in the squad as he continues his comeback from illness.

Ferguson said: "Darren's in the squad tomorrow, simply because I think it will give him a boost. It's a chance to progress. At this moment in time everything's going fine for him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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