David De Gea Injury a Huge Blow to Manchester United

Manchester United's injury crisis deepened Friday as BBC Sport, and others, reported that David De Gea had suffered a dislocated finger. 

No official word has been given on how long De Gea will be out for, but Simeon Gholam and Ralph Ellis of Mail Online suggested the Spanish stopper "could face at least a month out of action." 

If that prognosis is accurate, it would mean De Gea would be unavailable for United's games against Arsenal away and Hull and Stoke City at home.

Another key injury is the last thing Louis van Gaal needs. Losing players to injury has been one of the defining characteristics of his time in charge of United so far. Although their collective impact has been calamitous for United's current league position, few single injuries are as damaging as the loss of De Gea.

De Gea's form was a matter of some concern in the earlier part of the season. He had not made any high-profile errors, but there was a sense that he could be doing better—as I wrote back in September.

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However, all that dramatically changed with his truly outstanding performance against Everton on 5 October.

As United held on to a shaky 2-1 win, De Gea gave a tour-de-force shot-stopping performance. He saved a Leighton Baines penalty in the dying embers of the first half and then produced a string of remarkable saves in the second.

The Old Trafford crowd that day chanted De Gea's name with enthusiasm. De Gea himself said of the game, per FIFA.com: 

"

It was probably one of my best performances for Manchester United. I was really happy about that. Games like that helps your confidence grow.

"

Since then, De Gea has kept up his good form, making fine saves against Chelsea and Manchester City. His side's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace brought De Gea's clean sheet total at United to 50.

He has been a bright spark in a poor run for Van Gaal's men, with the Palace win being the first since that Everton game. Losing him ahead of a crucial game against Arsenal is detrimental to United's chances of turning things around.

Arsenal have endured mixed fortunes recently, but they have plenty of attacking threat. United's replacement options for De Gea are not at his level, as evidenced by the Spaniard's total dominance of the No. 1 spot at Old Trafford.

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With Sam Johnstone on loan at Doncaster Rovers, Van Gaal's choice is between Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos.

Amos was on the bench for United's first three games this season, but Lindegaard has been ever present there since the Red Devils' 4-0 defeat of Queens Park Rangers. It thus appears likely that the Dane with be Van Gaal's preferred option to replace De Gea.

De Gea's ability to conjure spectacular saves at key moments has prevented United's stuttering start from being even worse. Playing behind an unsettled defence, at least the 'keeper has been a fixture in Van Gaal's team selections. His injury forces Van Gaal into yet another change to United's defensive personnel.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Van Gaal can at least rearrange the system in the face of injury. The loss of his goalkeeper simply means he is forced into using a less gifted replacement.

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In truth, Van Gaal is relatively lucky that one of the fixtures De Gea may miss is Hull City at home. Their recent form has been dismal, and United remain unbeaten at home since the opening day of the season.

However, that is small comfort. United's quest to avoid a prolonged absence from the Champions League has gotten off to a poor start and Van Gaal desperately needs to begin amassing points consistently.

Losing De Gea, unquestionably one of United's best players, is a huge blow. United fans everywhere will be wishing him a very speedy recovery.