• Premier League

Manchester United's Van Persie out for at least two weeks

Robin van Persie will miss Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal © Getty Images

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Robin van Persie has been ruled out for at least a fortnight with an ankle injury and will miss Manchester United's FA Cup quarter-final against his former club Arsenal.

The Dutchman left the Liberty Stadium on crutches after United's 2-1 defeat to Swansea last week and will sit out Saturday's clash against Sunderland and Wednesday's trip to Newcastle. And United are yet to find out if Van Persie will be fit for March's pivotal Premier League clashes with Tottenham and Liverpool.

But vice-captain Michael Carrick is fully fit after a muscle problem while James Wilson, who suffered a dead leg playing for the Under-21 team on Monday, is in contention to face Gus Poyet's side.

Manager Louis van Gaal said in his news conference: ""He has an ankle problem. I don't think it's very heavy but an ankle problem takes a long time - it's not one or two weeks."

He added on MUTV: "Now Robin van Persie is the only injured player because [Michael] Carrick trained yesterday for the first time with the group, but he has an ankle injury now, so we will have to wait and see how long that shall take. James Wilson is available."

Van Persie, who has scored 10 times for United this season, has only missed one of their last 25 league games.

His absence means Wayne Rooney, who has played in attack in United's last two games after a two-month spell in midfield, could be set for an extended spell as a forward.

Van Gaal's other striking options are Radamel Falcao, who has only scored four goals in 19 games for the club, and Wilson, who has only scored three league goals in his career, although he could also use midfielder Marouane Fellaini in a more advanced role.

On Falcao's chances of starting, Van Gaal added: "The possibility is higher of course because when a striker is away another has to play. I never give you any openings [in terms of who he will play] so we will have to wait and see."

The Dutchman is pleased to have Carrick, who has not played since January's 0-0 draw at Cambridge, available again.

He added: "It is of course always important that players are coming back from injuries but he is my second captain. He is very experienced and he can play in a very important position, but he also needs match rhythm. He trained only one time with us, with the group so he needs to also play in the second team."

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