'I am fine': Manchester United right-back Antonio Valencia calms injury fears after West Brom win

Antonio Valencia appears to have allayed fears over any potentially serious injury blow after the Manchester United stalwart was withdrawn during Sunday's (17 December) Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.

Valencia made way for the returning Marcos Rojo after 66 minutes of a somewhat nervy 2-1 victory at The Hawthorns after appearing to hurt his left hamstring, with Ashley Young switched to right-back.

Manager Jose Mourinho revealed after the match that the versatile Ecuador international had suffered what he called a "December injury", a hamstring muscle issue caused by an "accumulation of fatigue" during a particularly hectic portion of the fixture calendar.

He insisted he did not know if the problem was "big, small or medium", although Valencia has since taken to social media to insist that he is doing well.

"3 points at a hard stadium," he wrote on Twitter. "Thanks for your support and concern. I am fine and our Manchester United won."

Stand-in captain during Michael Carrick's lengthy absence and a much-valued member of Mourinho's first-team squad, the experienced Valencia has been an ever-present for United so far in 2017-18, starting all 18 of their top-flight fixtures and three times in Europe.

It remains to be seen exactly how much time - if any - the 32-year-old stands to miss, with United still to face Leicester City, Burnley and Southampton over the festive period before opening 2018 with the visit of improving Everton to Old Trafford.

They also travel to Ashton Gate on Wednesday [20 December] for a Carabao Cup quarter-final meeting against in-form Championship promotion contenders Bristol City, although it seems unlikely that Valencia would have featured in that tie anyway given that he was rested earlier in the competition in the victories over Burton Albion and Swansea City.

United are already without Marouane Fellaini after he aggravated knee ligament damage while on international duty with Belgium against Chelsea in early November, with reports suggesting that he will require a lengthier lay-off after originally playing through the pain barrier.

Influential centre-back Eric Bailly, meanwhile, faces at least another two to three months on the sidelines after it was confirmed that he will undergo surgery on the ankle injury that has seen him miss each of the last nine matches.

Long-serving skipper Carrick has also yet to be involved since it was revealed last month that he had undergone a cardiac ablation after being diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm following the defeat of Burton in September - his only appearance of the season to date. He assured supporters that he was building up his fitness in training and hoped to be back in contention soon.

Paul Pogba is now available for selection once more after serving the three-match domestic suspension incurred following his red card at Arsenal on 2 December.