Angel Di Maria Injury: Updates on Manchester United Star's Pelvis and Return

Argentina star Angel Di Maria has been a huge difference-maker since arriving at Manchester United and Louis van Gaal will hope the 26-year-old is ready to put his injury problems behind him now.

Continue for updates.

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Di Maria Available for FA Cup Action

Sunday, Jan. 4

Manchester United announced Di Maria's role for today's match:

Di Maria would later come on as a substitute for Radamel Falcao:

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Di Maria Out vs. Stoke City, Expected to Train This Week

Thursday, Jan. 1

According to Manchester United's Twitter feed, Angel Di Maria missed the team's clash with Stoke City:

Following the game, Louis van Gaal updated Di Maria's status, via the club website:

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The Argentinian winger returned to action at Villa Park earlier this month after three weeks on the sidelines. He then suffered a setback in training just before Christmas but van Gaal told reporters on Tuesday that Di Maria is making positive steps forward.

"He’s coming back," revealed the manager. "I think he shall train with us this week." When asked to confirm whether the injury was a serious one, van Gaal replied: "No, I have said that already.

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Di Maria Eyeing Stoke Clash

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Manchester United may have their record signing back for the New Year's Day trip to Stoke, according to ESPN's Kevin Palmer: 

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Di Maria Misses Second Straight Match

Sunday, Dec. 28

Manchester United confirmed Di Maria was unfit to play today:

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Di Maria Suffers Pelvis Injury During Training

Friday, Dec. 26

According to Manchester United's official Twitter feed, the former Real Madrid standout suffered a knock in training on Christmas Eve:

The injury forced the winger missed the team's clash with Newcastle United on Boxing Day, according to the club.

Di Maria has been hugely productive for the Red Devils when on the pitch, but staying healthy has certainly been an issue.

During a match against Hull City on Nov. 29, he was forced to leave after suffering a hamstring ailment, per United.

After that match, manager Louis van Gaal was hopeful that Di Maria's decision to take himself out of the game prevented the injury from becoming even more significant, according to Mark Ogden of The Telegraph:

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I think Di Maria was hamstring. He knows his own body very well because at once he said he had to come off, so maybe it is not too bad. It is always difficult to say. We will have to wait and see. He shall be out for the match against Stoke for sure.

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Di Maria's wife, Jorgelina Cardoso, subsequently revealed that her husband had suffered a small tear in his hamstring, per Chris Waugh of The Daily Mail.

Di Maria was eventually able to return to action less than a month after suffering the hamstring tear, and he was on the bench for the Red Devils' Dec. 20 match against Aston Villa.

Manchester United were able to remain in contention in the EPL even without Di Maria, but there is no question that the Old Trafford faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief upon his return.

That relief has once again turned to grief, however, as United may have to press on without one of their biggest stars for the foreseeable future.

With that said, Manchester United are one club capable of pressing on even with a big-time player on the shelf.

The Red Devils are stacked with attacking talent from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to Juan Mata and Radamel Falcao. Replacing Di Maria is no easy task, but a group effort should be able to make up for his loss.

There is no question that United are simply a better team with Di Maria, though, so his fans, teammates and coaches will eagerly anticipate his return to action.

 

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