Saturday 21 November 2015 11:47, UK
Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial will miss Manchester United's game at Watford, Louis van Gaal has revealed.
The United captain is ill and out of the trip to Vicarage Road along with Martial and Michael Carrick, who were injured playing for their countries during the international break.
Martial left Wembley on crutches after damaging his foot during France's midweek defeat to England, while Carrick suffered an ankle injury in Spain on Friday night.
Rooney played and scored against France, but Van Gaal said: "Wayne Rooney was ill after the international break. I only saw him the day after he played then he was at home yesterday, so I think he can't play."
Marouane Fellaini remains out, as does Antonio Valencia, who had surgery on his injured foot earlier this month and is a long-term absentee.
Rooney and Martial could be back for next week's Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven, but Van Gaal is short of strikers for Saturday with James Wilson only just back from injury and unable to play a full 90 minutes.
Memphis Depay, who has not started a Premier League game since the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 4 and is struggling for form, is the only other obvious option to start up front.
There is good news, at least, over Carrick, who was initially thought to have suffered a serious injury when he was taken off on a stretcher in England's 2-0 defeat in Alicante.
Van Gaal said: "He shall be playing much quicker than everyone has written."
Marouane Fellaini remains out, as does Antonio Valencia, who had surgery on his injured foot earlier this month and is a long-term absentee.
Van Gaal confirmed the Ecuadorian would not be back until the end of February at the earliest.
The United manager told MUTV: "Valencia is longer term and very long. It is not within three months or something. It is a very heavy injury."
