Manchester United injury news: Louis van Gaal sweating over fitness of striker Wayne Rooney ahead of Southampton clash

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is sweating on the fitness of captain Wayne Rooney, who injured his knee during the game against Hull City on Saturday.

The manager was hoping that the striker would have been fit for the clash against Stoke City on Tuesday, but it was not to be. The England international was in the stands for the game and the manager admitted that he was not sure about the extent of the injury following United's 2-1 win over the Potters.

Rooney is set to have a scan on his knee to assess the amount of damage, but the manager is hoping that it is a relatively small issue, that he can overcome at the earliest.

"We have to wait for tomorrow to say anything about it because you never know with a knee," Van Gaal said, as quoted by Goal.

"But my opinion it is not so heavy - but I am not a doctor. We have to wait a scan and we will know more."

Apart from his skipper's injury the Dutch manager has also ruled out club-record signing Angel di Maria for the clash against Southampton on Monday night. The Argentine winger suffered a hamstring injury and was substituted early in the first half during the game against Steve Bruce's men.

"Di Maria is not so heavy, but of course he shall not play against Southampton but you never know," the Dutchman added.

The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager also gave an update on Daley Blind, who suffered a knee ligament injury while on international duty with the Netherlands team.

The 61-year-old United manager has confirmed that the Dutch midfielder is unlikely to return anytime soon, and will only know his return date at the end of December around the Christmas period.

"It is not so heavy but what is not so heavy in his injury, it is not heavy but the injury is not next week. Christmas maybe. I think that at the end of December maybe we see light in the tunnel," Van Gaal explained.