Manchester United news: Martial & Rooney among Other 6 Players ruled out of Watford clash

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Manchester United manager ​Louis van Gaal has revealed that both Anthony Martial and captain Wayne Rooney will ​miss Saturday's Pre​mier Leagu​e trip to Watford.

At his Friday press conference ahead of the game, the Dutchman confirmed that Martial had not managed to shrug off the injury he sustained in France's friendly with England on Tuesday, while Rooney was suffering from an illness which would keep him out of the game. He does however hope that both players will be available for Tuesday's Champions League clash with PSV.

That, however, is not the end of the injury troubles for United. Marouane Fellaini is injured too - so that eliminates another potential option to fill the central striking role - while Michael Carrick will not return after picking up a recent injury of his own. Antonio Valencia's recent surgery means he will be out of action for a number of months too, joining Luke Shaw on the sidelines.

Van Gaal said: "I think that everybody knows Michael Carrick and Anthony Martial are injured, but also injured is Fellaini. That's a surprise because I thought he was recovered after the international break, but still he is injured. 

"And that's a big blow because Rooney is ill, so we have a big problem, I think."

On Martial, he said: "It’s not so heavy as everybody has written in the media, but he cannot play against Watford. Maybe PSV for Martial but it's not certain, and I think Rooney shall also play then because illness is not something of many days. 

"And Valencia, of course, has been operated on before the international break already, then Shaw, so we have five injured players, and that's a lot."

Van Gaal said that Carrick, however, is set to return sooner than many people expect: "He shall be playing much quicker than everyone has written."

As it stands, Dutchman Memphis Depay could be the man deployed in the central striking role as he's capable of playing there, while James Wilson will also push for a start. Van Gaal did however concede that the latter will not be able to play the entire 90 minutes because of a lack of recent match practice.

On Wilson, he said: "Wilson can play but he cannot play a whole match because he doesn't have the rhythm of the game."

United travel to Vicarage Road for Saturday's early kick off, and could go top of the Premier League - albeit temporarily - with a win.

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