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United face defensive injury crisis

Jonny Evans picked up an ankle problem against Leicester on Sunday © Getty Images

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Manchester United will be without Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling as Louis van Gaal confirmed all his regular central defenders will be missing for Saturday's Premier League visit of West Ham.

United are currently short of 10 players, with nine injured and Tyler Blackett serving a one-match ban after his dismissal in Sunday's 5-3 defeat to Leicester.

Evans came off then with an ankle problem, with United are waiting to ascertain the scale of the damage to the Northern Ireland international, who was pictured on crutches.

Smalling, who made his comeback as a substitute against Leicester, was hurt in training while the hamstrung Phil Jones was already out.

"We have a lot of injuries, nine injuries, and one suspended, Blackett, so that means 10 [out]," Van Gaal said.

"Evans is a very difficult thing. His bone is bruised a lot and we have to wait and see; Smalling ran out yesterday in a training session because he had stiff legs so we have to see what that is meaning but I don't take risks with players."

Van Gaal, who loaned centre-back Michael Keane to Burnley on the final day of the transfer window, said he will look to United's youth team in his search for additional defenders - with 19-year-old Paddy McNair a reported candidate.

"I try the younger players," Van Gaal added. "I have to go to the youth academy and pick players. That is a good signal and the second team and the younger players can pick their chances now and that is also the policy of this club."

The Dutchman also has the option of moving Marcos Rojo - who played his first two United games as a full-back - into the middle of the defence and giving Luke Shaw a debut on the left while Marnick Vermijl, who played in the 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to MK Dons, could be an option.

United are still without injured midfielders Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young in what Van Gaal says is the worst injury crisis of his managerial career, but insists if he changes his coaching techniques then his players will not be prepared properly for matches.

"I have to admit that I am never in this situation before so that is strange," he added. "For me, it is difficult to understand because we are evaluating what we can do in a different way

"But you have to train on a certain level because otherwise you cannot play a game. I have already said I have adapted to a certain level but I cannot train lower as then you cannot perform in the right way."

This article originally appeared on ESPNFC.com

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