Manchester United injury news: Daley Blind returns to training after recovering from knee injury sustained on international duty

Manchester United's injury crisis seems to be easing as we reach the midway point of the Premier League season.

Red Devils midfielder Daley Blind has confirmed his return to training following a month's spell on the sidelines with a knee injury he sustained while on international duty with the Netherlands team.

The Dutch midfielder had started all the eight matches he was available for since his summer move from Eredivisie club Ajax. The midfielder is a key component of Louis van Gaal's team as he can be a very versatile player, who can play in the defensive midfield role or provide cover at the left wing-back position.

Blind confirmed on the social networking site Twitter that his recovery process is on track as he resumed training outside for the first time since his injury.

"The football boots are back! Started training outside again, great feeling!" Blind tweeted on Tuesday.

However, the midfielder is not expected to return to first-team action before January as he continues his recovery, but the Mirror report claims that the former Ajax midfielder could return for United's FA Cup fixture against Yeovil Town or their Premier League fixture against Southampton on 11<sup>th January.

Meanwhile, the United manager has given an injury update ahead of the festive fixtures when the Old Trafford club will face Newcastle United, Tottenham and Stoke City in the space of seven days.

Van Gaal revealed that Marouane Fellaini is still sidelined, but he hopes that Chris Smalling can return for the Boxing Day clash against the Magpies following a test on Christmas day.

"I don't think so, I am sorry. Maybe Smalling. Fellaini is still not available. Smalling is a question mark - I have to look tomorrow but it's always like that. For a few players it [this period] is fun because they are recovering quickly, but you also have players who are not recovering so quickly, so I have to rotate. My problem is I have a lot of injured players. That is the problem with these," Van Gaal told United's official site.