• Premier League

Van Gaal hints Blind won't fill defensive gap

Louis van Gaal has hinted Daley Blind won't fill in at centre-back for Manchester United against West Ham with the manager set to turn to either Tom Thorpe or Paddy McNair on Saturday.

United will be without injured centre-backs Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones at Old Trafford while Tyler Blackett is suspended following his red card in the 5-3 defeat against Leicester.

Louis van Gaal is missing four centre-backs ahead of West Ham's visit on Saturday © Getty Images

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Van Gaal has ruled out pairing the left-footed duo of Blind and Marcos Rojo in the middle of the back four and could now turn to Thorpe or McNair, with midfielder Darren Fletcher also an option.

Thorpe, 21, made six appearances on loan at Birmingham last season and captains United's under-21 team while McNair is a 19-year-old Northern Irishman who can also operate as a midfielder.

"They are in the squad," Van Gaal told MUTV. "I don't [like] too many left-footed players in defence. I think always in [terms of] balance so I have to pick up a right central defender from the youth education."

Luke Shaw is set to make his belated United debut after being an unused substitute in the last two games with Rojo, who had played at left-back against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester, to move infield.

Van Gaal added: "Maybe last week he could have played already but it is better to give an injured player more time to recover. He is now ready to play and I am anxious to see him."

The United manager also admitted he is worried how injury-prone Jones, Smalling and Evans are proving to be.

"Smalling is already injured for the third time," he explained. "Also Evans, I believe. Only Jones has one injury for the national team. I am a coach with a lot of experience and I was never in this situation. It is surprising me. I am evaluating what is wrong but I cannot imagine what we are doing at another level from my former clubs."

Record signing Angel Di Maria has scored in his last two games but Van Gaal said he is eager to see the Argentinian improve in his defensive duties.

He said: "In ball possession, he is playing fantastic. He is creating a lot, he is scoring goals and he is giving assists so as a coach you cannot want more. But there is also a main moment in football where we lose the ball and there he can improve."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd