Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera could return for Manchester United against Norwich
Friday 18 December 2015 20:14, UK
Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera could be in line to return to the Manchester United team for Saturday's home game with Norwich City.
The trio missed last weekend's defeat to Bournemouth but manager Louis van Gaal confirmed at Friday's news conference that they have been training all week.
Centre-back Smalling has recovered from a groin injury while midfielder Herrera has not played since damaging a hamstring during the 2-1 win over Watford in November.
United skipper Rooney has missed the last three games - against West Ham, Wolfsburg and Bournemouth - with an ankle injury, and without him the Red Devils have failed to win.
Rooney has scored seven goals this season, though only two of those have come in the Premier League and Van Gaal said that in "normal" circumstances he would not consider bringing the England captain back.
But with United without a win in five matches, Van Gaal wants a result against the Canaries.
Van Gaal said: "He has trained the whole week. It is possible he can play. But we have to wait and see... it is too much risk normally. But in these circumstances, sometimes you have to take risks."
Rooney's next appearance will be his 500th as a United player.
He has only scored once for the club since October, and Van Gaal added: "I hope when he plays he scores a goal, because it is a big day for him."
Goals have been in short supply for United and Van Gaal said: "The only answer is to win this game. It's still difficult because we are playing in the Premier League.
"But at home you have to win. Norwich have had good results against top teams. What I always say, and that's not any excuse, is that winning in the Premier League is not so easy.
"Goals are the most important thing. We have to always look for solutions to make goals. We are doing that but we have to look for the solutions in our selection - that's important. Maybe we have solutions elsewhere but that's more difficult, because in January clubs shall not let go of players who score."
There are no suggestions Van Gaal's job is under threat, but he said the dismissal of Jose Mourinho by Chelsea on Thursday shows that all managers need results.
"I have the full confidence of my board and my players, I feel," he said. "But we have to get results. We have to win, and we know that - the players know it, I know it and my staff know it.
"We have to win because when you lose too much, also for me it's the end of the world."
Van Gaal confirmed that Jesse Lingard and Matteo Darmian are still unavailable, but Ashley Young could be in the squad if he comes through a late check.
And the Dutchman confirmed that if United's goalscoring problems continue and they are "in trouble" up front, they can recall James Wilson from his loan spell from Brighton.
