LONDON: Manchester United have finally received some positive injury news after Marouane Fellaini returned to full training and Ander Herrera expressed his determination to be back in action within a fortnight.
Fellaini and Herrera are among 10 United players who have been sidelined through injury since the beginning of the season, severely hindering the start of Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford reign.
Fellaini has been sidelined for the last five weeks since suffering ligament damage in his left ankle in training after playing in the opening game against Swansea.
The £27.5 million (RM152 million) signing from Everton has resumed training with the first-team squad at Carrington this week although it appears unlikely that he will be ready to face his old club at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Herrera fractured a rib in his back in Saturday’s win over West Ham and was expected to be out of action for up to a month.
Despite speculation yesterday that United’s £29 million summer signing from Athletic Bilbao may have suffered the injury in a second-half collision with referee Lee Mason, Herrera is believed to have caught a knee in the back from an opponent in the first half and played on until the 74th minute.
United offered him the opportunity to have a break while he recovers, but the Spaniard has made it clear that he can be fit to play again in two weeks after the forthcoming international break.
Darren Fletcher is set to replace Herrera against Everton while Juan Mata is expected to be recalled in place of the suspended Wayne Rooney.
There was more promising news from Van Gaal as it emerged that Michael Carrick and Phil Jones are running outside again, although they are not ready to rejoin the main first-team group.
Carrick has yet to play this season after undergoing ankle surgery in July and Jones suffered a hamstring strain in England’s win over Switzerland three weeks ago. Daily Mail