Louis Van Gaal admits training methods influenced Manchester United injury crisis earlier in season

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted the team's "way of training" since his summer arrival at Old Trafford had an influence in the injury crisis at his side earlier in the campaign.

A number of defenders and key players including summer signings Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw suffered injuries during the first months of the competition with van Gaal forced to promote academy players into the first team.

United failed to secure a victory until the fourth Premier League game against QPR and werer knocked out of the League Cup after a humiliating 4-0 defeat to MK Dons.

But as soon as the injury situation started to improve, van Gaal's side have recorded better results, having lost just one game in 19 despite doubts about the style.

The boss confirmed only Michael Carrick is injured for the Saturday's game against Swansea as he explained how his players had finally adapted to his training sessions.

"We are very close to this stage. I have started in the first four months to select out of only the fit players and as you know we have always had 10 or 11 injuries," van Gaal said, according to ESPN.

"Now in the last months we have only one or two players injured, for example now only Michael Carrick is injured, so that is also a big difference. That is also because the way of training the players had to adapt. This has been completed and that is different to the beginning."

Meanwhile, van Gaal confirmed both Robin van Persie and Phil Jones are fit for the visit to Wales after missing the FA Cup victory over Preston North End on Monday.