Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has some good news finally trickling in on the injury front, with some of his key players, particularly defenders, set for a return to action.
Van Gaal has been crippled by injuries with players getting sidelined left, right and centre ever since taking over at Old Trafford, but those injury worries are easing up a little bit with time.
While Luke Shaw suffered an ankle injury against Arsenal last weekend, Van Gaal confirmed it is not that serious – certainly not as problematic as the one suffered by Jack Wilshere in the same game – and the left-back, who had grown into the Manchester United shirt with every game, is likely to miss only a few weeks.
"Luke sustained an ankle ligament injury but with no serious complications and he will only be out for the next few weeks because of this," said Van Gaal.
Marcos Rojo could be the man to replace Shaw, even if only from the bench, in the English Premier League match against Hull City on Saturday with the versatile defender set for a return from a shoulder injury which he suffered in the loss to Manchester City on 2 November.
Striker Radamel Falcao is another player set to return, to the bench at least, after missing the last four matches for Manchester United.
"We have to wait and see until the last training session of course," a cautious Van Gaal said when asked about the players who could return for the Hull game. "It's always difficult to say but we have good news, yes. You have to read between the lines.
"I have to train the last session and I live day by day at this moment. So maybe Falcao can come back in the 18 [man squad], maybe Rojo can come back in the 18. That's it I think."
However, earlier, speaking to Manchester United's official website, Van Gaal had been more cautious over Falcao's comeback, saying the striker is probably not ready for Premier League action just yet, even if he did admit the Colombian is likely to make the matchday squad.
"Falcao is not ready," said Van Gaal. "When you are out of the running for so long and not training with your fellow players and only running because of the injury, one week of training sessions is not sufficient to develop match rhythm. I need strikers now, so maybe he is in the 18."
Jonny Evans has also made a long-awaited return from injury, with the central defender taking part in a U-21 game to gain some match fitness. Van Gaal, though, believes Evans still needs some more time before he can return to first team action.
"Evans is, of course, out with an injury that takes a lot of weeks, so he has to develop match rhythm and that's why he had to play in the second team," added van Gaal.
"He played 60 minutes but then you don't already have the match rhythm of the Premier League. He is fit to play but not for the Premier League."
