Sunderland vs Manchester United: Adnan Januzaj and Guillermo Varela unlikely to be fit for Stadium of Light visit

Manchester United are set to be without seven first-team players for their Premier League clash against Sunderland on Saturday (13 February). The Red Devils are unbeaten in 13 visits to the Stadium of Light and will look to continue their run as they try to make ground on the clubs in the top four of the league table.

According to Manchester United's official site, Adnan Januzaj and Guillermo Varela are unlikely to be fit to travel with the squad after they picked up injuries during the United 21 side's 7-0 rout of the Norwich City reserve side on Monday (8 February). They are the latest entrants to the injured list, which includes, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and long-term absentee Luke Shaw.

The duo were replaced midway through the U21 Premier League game, and are unlikely to feature against the Black Cats, despite reserve team manager Warren Joyce allaying fears over the seriousness of the injuries.

"I don't really know about the injuries. We'll have to assess them. Varela's was just a kick on the ankle so it shouldn't be too bad and Adnan over stretched so it was just a precaution really. Hopefully, they'll be fine," Joyce told MUTV following their demolition of the Canaries.

Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, has admitted that the club hierarchy, including him, are disappointed with the performance of the team this season. The 20-time English champions are in danger of missing out on a place in the Champions League next season following their dismal run at the end of 2015, which saw them go on a six-match winless streak, giving them just three points from a possible 18. They are currently in the fifth place, six points behind Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

"Of course, the Glazers are disappointed. Ed Woodward is disappointed and I am also disappointed because we are now further away from the top," Van Gaal said, as quoted by ESPN FC.