• Premier League

Van Gaal facing selection dilemma as injuries clear up

Louis van Gaal revealed Manchester United have only one injured player © PA Photos

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Manchester United's injury problems are clearing up as Ashley Young, who is out for up to six weeks with a hamstring problem, is now their only sidelined player.

Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini could make their comebacks against Southampton on Sunday while Angel Di Maria is available to make his first start since November. Manager Louis van Gaal also revealed defender Marcos Rojo will return to training on Saturday.

The Dutchman, whose time at Old Trafford has been notable for the number of injuries his players have suffered, said: "We have only one player injured. Can you believe it? Only one. I have to select for the first time in my career in Manchester United the 11 and the 18 players."

Bit lonely in the physio room! Where's everyone gone?

— Ashley Young (@youngy18) January 9, 2015

Wing-back Young was hurt in the 1-1 draw at Stoke on New Year's Day and Van Gaal added: "Ashley Young [is out] for four-to-six weeks but it is always difficult to predict in a muscle."

United's £59.7 million-record buy Di Maria has had hamstring and pelvic problems in the last six weeks but made a scoring comeback as a substitute against League One Yeovil.

The versatile Blind has been out since November with a knee injury while Rojo, another one of Van Gaal's summer signings, suffered a thigh problem in United's 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary's a month ago.

Van Gaal added: "Blind has trained the full week with us. Angel Di Maria has played only 20 minutes and that is because of match rhythm. I have only one injured player but I don't have 100 percent match fit players.

"That is a different thing. Of course Di Maria is further [along] than Daley Blind or Rojo but I have to select and select the best team and also I have to watch the qualities of Southampton and how I can reduce that quality by our line-up and also our gameplan."

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The Dutchman is weighing up whether to pick right-back Rafael da Silva, who would have to play in a mask after fracturing his cheekbone last week, but revealed left-back Luke Shaw is contention after he had to be taken off in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Yeovil.

Shaw suffered an ankle problem against Yeovil but the England international is available to face Southampton for the first time since leaving St Mary's for £27m in June.

"They [Shaw and Rafael] can play," Van Gaal added to MUTV. "They are both not injured. Rafael Da Silva was of course operated on, and maybe we don't take any risk with him, but Shaw can also play."

Valencia has not featured since coming off in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham on December 28 with a groin problem while Fellaini, who was first ill and then suffered from a cracked rib, last played in the 3-0 win over Liverpool but Van Gaal suggested they are both in contention.

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