Rooney's return will be a big boost for United who is looking to bounce back from its defeat to PSV(Getty)
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will return to the squad for its Premier League clash with Southampton after missing the defeat to PSV.
The striker missed his side’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat away to PSV but will return to face the Saints, while Phil Jones is back in training after recovering from thrombosis.
“Wayne is fit to play,” said Van Gaal. “He has only had one week out and it was because we were not taking any risks with him.
“Phil Jones has come back and trained with the group for the first time. He is not match fit but he is fit to train. Only Luke Shaw is injured.”
Van Gaal lamented the loss of Shaw – out with a broken leg – to his squad but did report that the left-back was sounding positive after phoning him in Eindhoven.
“I called Luke Shaw,” he said. “He sounds very strong and firm, which is amazing for me – a good signal.
“It was another look than the day before, so I was happy with that. But of course he knows that it is a long way to go for him. The operation was a good operation but nearly all the operations are always good. We have to wait and see how long it takes.
“It is a great loss. I have said in advance of this season already that it shall be the season of Luke Shaw. He had started fantastically and everybody had seen that. It is a great miss, a great loss.”
The 64-year-old is now faced with the challenge of replacing the England international and he admitted that was something which would not be easy to do.
“You have to build up again a combination with the player in front of him,” Van Gaal said. “Memphis and Shaw were a very good combination and now you have to build up a new combination
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