Angel Di Maria injury: Manchester United sweat over fitness of record signing as he is in danger of missing Chelsea clash
Di Maria was taken off during the 2-2 draw with West Brom and had his leg immediately wrapped by the United physio
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United could face their biggest game of the season so far against Chelsea without their club record signing after Angel Di Maria limped out of their 2-2 draw with West Brom.
Di Maria cost United £59.7m in the summer as he completed his transfer from Real Madrid, and he has proven to be one of United’s most influential players in their inconsistent start to the season.
It will be because of his growing influence in the side that Louis van Gaal will fear he could be without him for the visit of Chelsea this Sunday in what will be United’s biggest test since the Dutchman took over.
The Argentinian continued his good form on Monday night as he set-up United’s first equaliser, which saw Marouane Fellaini bag his first competitive goal for the club since completing his £27.5m move from Everton in the summer of 2013.
Fellaini had only just come off the bench when he dragged United back into the match as they were trailing 1-0 before the Belgian struck, and Di Maria remained on the pitch until the 76th minute when he was replaced by Ashley Young. Appearing to be in some discomfort, the United physio immediately wrapped his leg as Chris Smalling, Ander Herrera and Ryan Giggs looked on with concern.
Di Maria has settled well to life at Old Trafford having left the European champions in the summer, and has already scored three goals for the club despite them winning just three of their eight Premier League matches this season. It is his four assists though that has seen him become such an integral figure in the side, and with Wayne Rooney still absent through suspension for the game against the Blues, Van Gaal will be determined to have Di Maria available at all costs.
United’s injury concerns have been eased somewhat when you compare their absent players to those that were sidelined before the recent international break. Phil Jones returned to the starting line-up for the draw with the Baggies while Smalling was fit enough to feature on the bench. However, the biggest boost came with Michael Carrick’s appearance among the substitutes, although Van Gaal resisted the urge to put him one for his first appearance of the season.
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