Manchester United: LVG delighted with Phil Jones's first-team return during dominant League Cup victory

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was delighted following the Red Devils' 3-0 win over Ipswich Town in the third round of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday (23 September) night. Moreover, the Dutchman was happy to see Phil Jones make a successful comeback from injury, after the defender completed his first 20 minutes of the season following a diagnosis of mild thrombosis prior to their opening Premier League game.

Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira scored the goals for United in a dominating performance at Old Trafford, with the latter notching his first senior goal for the club. The 20-time English champions never looked in trouble against the Championship club and will now face Middlesbrough in the fourth round.

Jones, who featured for the first time this season, was not expected to play a part in the game owing to his lack of match fitness. But with sudden injuries to Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair, the manager was forced to put the England international on the bench. The former Blackburn Rovers defender came on in the 70<sup>th minute to replace Chris Smalling and came through the game unscathed to the delight of the Dutch manager.

"The result was great. We don't have injuries. I brought in players and I rotated players. Phil Jones has played a lot of minutes. So I'm a happy coach," Van Gaal said, as quoted on United's official site.

"I said in advance to Phil [Jones] about how many minutes he thought he could play. 20, 30...he thinks more! It is not so easy to do that, but I asked him after the game if he felt fit and he said he did. He could easily have played more minutes so that's a good signal," the former Bayern Munich manager added.

United have been handed a home fixture with Championship highfliers Middlesbrough. Van Gaal has admitted that his scout will have to give him an analysis of the team, as he is not too aware of their capabilities.

"It is a top club in the Championship. I don't know much about them. The scout shall analyse the opponents like he did with Ipswich. It is one of the top clubs, so it is not so easy. I am very happy with the result. I am happy we are playing at home. We are travelling a lot so it is good to stay at home," he added.