Manchester United Striker Radamel Falcao to Miss Derby But Wayne Rooney Passed Fit

Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao will miss Sunday's derby against Manchester City through injury but Wayne Rooney is set to make his return, Louis van Gaal has confirmed.

Rooney has completed his three-game suspension but reports of a minor foot injury sparked speculation the captain would miss the clash with Manuel Pellegrini's side.

While van Gaal was able to ease those concerns, the Dutchman confirmed Falcao has not recovered from the knock that ruled him out of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last Sunday.

"Falcao is still injured. Rooney was never injured," van Gaal told a press conference. He shall play, he is my captain. I think [Antonio] Valencia is fit again to play."

Falcao also missed the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion prior to the Chelsea game due to jetlag, according to his manager. Rooney's return, however, will help supplement the Colombian's absence against United's city rivals, although his manager did not confirm whether the skipper would start.

Marouane Fellaini is likely to retain his place in the side after impressive performances in his last two appearances.

"He has made a great contribution and also the assist for the [Chelsea] goal," van Gaal said of the Belgian. "He has had a lot of time out injured but when he is fit I have played him. He has to continue with that because then I am very pleased."

Sunday's clash at the Etihad Stadium will be van Gaal's first taste of the Manchester derby but the manager insists the rivalry between the two sides has been felt in training all week, chiefly through his right-hand man Ryan Giggs.

"This is the biggest derby that I shall manage. It is one of 38 [league] matches we have to play, but for the fans it is unbelievably big as a rivalry and I have felt that also with a lot of the players in the squad, but also especially with Ryan Giggs. When he presented the analysis on City, I felt more tension with him. It was good to see.

"That is our goal, to win. It is possible, we are growing, we are developing ourselves. What we have seen of City in the last few matches was not so good. You never know."