Falcao's Injury Concerns Becoming Big Problem for Manchester United and Van Gaal

Things aren't exactly going to plan for Louis van Gaal at Manchester United. After backtracking on his initial appraisal that it would take three months for his methods at Old Trafford to take hold, as quoted by ESPN FC, bad form and injuries have proved problematic for the Dutchman.

The most glaring problem is that his defence has been ravaged by injuries, with Jonny Evans, Marcos Rojo, Tyler Blackett and Phil Jones all currently sidelined, and with Chris Smalling's suspension thrown into the mix as well, he was forced to start with youngster Paddy McNair and midfielder Daley Blind as his central-defensive partnership in the win over Crystal Palace last weekend.

However, there are increasing worries about his attack as well, as I covered earlier this month for Bleacher Report. Since then, concerns have grown over Radamel Falcao's injury problems, which have now kept him out of action since the 2-2 draw with West Brom, which he played 18 minutes of after coming on as a substitute.

Reports, from Jamie Jackson in the Guardian, have since suggested that the Colombian striker's knee injury is causing him persistent problems, and that he has to put ice on said knee to prevent it from swelling after every training session.

The player himself has subsequently hit back in a none-too-cryptic message on Twitter, but concerns will obviously remain and arguably grow about a player who has suffered three serious knee injuries in his career, the last of which kept him out for eight months last season and caused him to miss the World Cup.

The gamble of signing Falcao, even just on loan, was clear when United completed a deadline-day deal in the summer. Even though it was a temporary move, a loan fee of around £16 million is not to be sniffed at, particularly for a player with concerns over his fitness.

And it seems that it is not just his knee that is causing problems. Van Gaal admitted at the weekend that he doesn't know when the striker will be available again, after spending time on the sidelines with a calf injury. Van Gaal said, as quoted by Reuters:

"

I cannot say when Falcao will be back. It depends on the progress on his injury. It's his calf. The problem for Falcao is because of balance in the game.

I cannot judge now because he is injured and I changed him not because of his performance but because of the balance of the team, which is much more important than the individual.

"

The timing of Falcao's signing, in the closing hours of the transfer window, does not exactly suggest that it was a straight choice between signing him or another defender. However, it does now make that call not to strengthen a back line that does not necessarily have the requisite quality—even when fully fit—look even more risky.

Falcao's arrival was the main reason Van Gaal was happy to let both Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez leave in the summer, so with Robin van Persie out of form, Wayne Rooney's problems with consistency well-documented and youngster James Wilson still learning, United's issues up front are quickly becoming more pressing than at the back.

With his injury history, Falcao's signing was always going to be a gamble, and given the growing concerns about his fitness, it could be a gamble that will backfire for Van Gaal.