• Premier League

Rooney: Don't write United off

Wayne Rooney has issued a defiant riposte to Manchester United's critics and warned that writing them off this early in the season would be a mistake.

United let slip a 3-1 lead to lose 5-3 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, leaving them 12th in the Premier League with five points from as many games and already eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney says Louis van Gaal's "unbelievable" attention to detail will pay off © Getty Images

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Despite spending more than £150 million on new signings Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo, Van Gaal still has just one competitive win to his name at United.

But captain Rooney, who cut a frustrated figure on Sunday, backed the new manager to deliver and took to his Facebook page on Tuesday night to write: "There seems to be a lot of people who have written us off because of Sunday's result but I don't see it that way.

"When I look around our dressing room and see the quality we have and the manager's unbelievable attention to detail I have no doubts this team will be successful."

Van Gaal has injury concerns at the back following Sunday's defeat with Jonny Evans expected to be out for a month after limping off in the first half at Leicester, joining Phil Jones on the sidelines.

Tyler Blackett also picked up a red card in Sunday's defeat and will miss West Ham's visit to Old Trafford this weekend, with Shaw set to be handed his debut while Rojo could be moved into centre-back.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail report that Van Gaal could be ready to use Michael Carrick as an emergency centre-back to steady the ship at the heart of United's leaky defence.

Carrick is yet to make his first appearance under Van Gaal after undergoing surgery on an ankle ligament injury in the summer but is back in training at Carrington.

The midfielder has played in the position previously under Sir Alex Ferguson and has reportedly spoken with Van Gaal about filling in again.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd