Marouane Fellaini Injury: Updates on Manchester United Star's Rib and Return

Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini was available to play on Jan. 11 despite previously battling a rib injury.

Continue for updates. 

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Fellaini Available vs. Southampton

Sunday, Jan. 11

Manchester United announced Fellaini's role for today's match:

Fellaini would later make an appearance in the second half:

Fellaini missed the team's New Year's Day game vs. Stoke and the club's FA Cup match on Jan. 4. 

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Rib Injury Forces Fellaini Out of United Lineup

Saturday, Dec. 27

Ian Landyman of the Daily Mail reports that it is a rib injury, not a virus, keeping Fellaini out of the United lineup:

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Manchester United will be without Marouane Fellaini for the remainder of Christmas and New Year after it emerged the Belgian has a rib injury.

United manager Louis van Gaal has put Fellaini’s absence from the squad down to a mystery ‘virus’, revealing after Friday's win at home to Newcastle that the giant midfielder would not figure against Tottenham on Sunday.

However it is understood that Fellaini is also nursing injured ribs suffered in the win against Liverpool a fortnight ago and it is this that is expected to side line the former Everton player a little longer.

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Previously, it had been reported that Fellaini was dealing with an illness, that had kept him out of the club's last three matches, but it appears that it is instead the latest injury in what has been a rather lengthy history of them in the midfielder's brief career at Old Trafford. 

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Fellaini Felled by Illness

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Manchester United will be without Belgium international and star midfielder Marouane Fellaini for their Boxing Day match against Newcastle United, as manager Louis van Gaal confirmed he won't be available for selection during his pre-match press conference.

The club shared the news via Twitter:

Fellaini missed United's 1-1 draw against Aston Villa in Week 17 due to illness, and his absence this Friday is likely due to the same issue.

Once mocked for being one of the worst of the club's signings in the past decade, the 27-year-old has turned things around in 2014-15 and evolved into one of the club's most consistent players.