Manchester United Defender Phil Jones to Miss Month of Action with Hamstring Setback

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says Phil Jones is facing three weeks to a month on the sidelines as one of nine players still unavailable to the Dutchman.

Jones, who was named the club's player of the month for August, limped off during England's 2-0 win over Switzerland in their opening European Championship qualifier with a hamstring injury.

Despite the setback, van Gaal is able to call upon Marcos Rojo to replace the 22-year-old and is also likely to hand a full debut to £27m full back Luke Shaw, who could be joined by the fit-again Ander Herrera.

"I think they [Herrera and Shaw] are fit enough to play," van Gaal told reporters on Friday.

"There is always a risk when you bring players back in their first game after injury. Therefore, we let them play in a game for the reserves against Bury and they played 60 minutes and they played well. I think they can play now."

United will be without Jones for their next three games starting against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, but could have him back for the visit of Everton on 5 October.

"The situation has not improved much because while there are players coming back, there are also players who have got injured in the last week, like for example Phil Jones and Ashley Young. So it is more or less the same situation and that is not a very positive one."

United are also still without Sam Johnstone, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling, James Wilson, Reece James, Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini, who are still looking for match fitness or recovering from respective knocks of their own.

"Fellaini is more than a month away, Jones maybe three weeks or a month. Carrick isn't ready but has run for the first time on grass.

"Johnstone has elbow problems, Smalling isn't fit enough, Wilson and James are not ready yet. Young and Lingard are also injured."