United Injury News 2015/16

[zudomiriku]

Louis van Gaal praises club doctor for spotting blood clot in Phil Jones' calf

* Louis van Gaal has praised Manchester United's club doctor Steve McNally
* McNally spotted a minor thrombosis in defender Phil Jones' calf
* The 23-year-old could now miss three Premier League fixtures
* The England international could also be absent for the two-legged Champions League play-off against Bruges

Louis van Gaal has praised Manchester United's club doctor Steve McNally for spotting the blood clot in Phil Jones's calf that has ruled the England defender out of action for at least three weeks.

Jones missed the opening-day win over Tottenham at Old Trafford after the problem was detected by Dr McNally last week and confirmed by a specialist on Friday.

The 23-year-old could now miss three Premier League fixtures as well as the two-legged Champions League play-off against Bruges while he remains under observation.


A blood clot in Phil Jones's calf has ruled the defender out of action for at least three weeks

Van Gaal said: 'It was very peculiar because he had tightness in his calf the whole week and he kept training, but we have a very good doctor I think because this doctor discovered a minor thrombosis.

'We don't take the risk so we went to a specialist at the hospital for a second opinion.

'The specialist said we have a new medical treatment and we have to keep him out for three weeks and watch him.'


The 23-year-old England international could now miss three Premier League fixtures for Manchester United

Chris Smalling impressed in central defence alongside Daley Blind against Spurs, and Van Gaal denied that Jones's injury will necessarily force him back into the transfer market for another right-sided centre half.

'No we have three centre backs,' he said.

'We have (Paddy) McNair, Jones and Smalling, but if he is much better than them then it is possible. We go for the best players and it has to be possible.'

Van Gaal also disagreed with suggestions that Tottenham's players looked sharper than United at Old Trafford.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino claimed that his team's fitness level was 'higher', but Van Gaal said: 'I don't agree because I think Tottenham could not cope with our pressure either and we scored because of that.

'They had the first chance of the game but after that they didn't create many chances. We neither, but I have said we could have played better.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3191725/Louis-van-Gaal-praises-club-doctor-spotting-blood-clot-Phil-Jones-calf.html