Manchester United vs. West Ham: Key Takeaways from Louis van Gaal's Presser

Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal revealed he is looking to buy in the January transfer window—after injuries to Wayne Rooney and Marcos Rojo further stretched his options ahead of West Ham United's visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Dutchman said Rooney is out with a "nasty" ankle injury and that Marcos Rojo suffered a dislocated shoulder in training on Wednesday, forcing him to target new players in the winter, as reported by Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News (via the Mirror):

"

They are always contact injuries and you cannot afford that. We have a lot of contact injuries and also long-lasting injuries so that’s our problem. So we are looking [at players for January] but as you know it is not so easy to buy players and in January it is more difficult. We are looking but it is not for sure.

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Van Gaal explained the depth of Rojo and Rooney's issues, telling MUTV (h/t the club's official website):

"

It was already in the media—Rojo has been injured. It’s his shoulder, the same as last year, in a training session. It’s very unfortunate, also in the position of Luke Shaw, so I have a great problem. 

Also the injury of Wayne Rooney is more [serious] than we thought, so neither can play. That’s it I think. Jesse Lingard is coming back which is good news. Phil Jones is still injured so we have six injuries.

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Jesse Lingard will return against the Hammers after a brief spell out, but Phil Jones and Ander Herrera will still be missing with injury, per Bajkowski. Van Gaal berated his team's luck with injury problems, saying:

"

The week after next we have two weeks that we can have more recovery. I have already given the players two days off this week. I am giving them a lot of rest because I think it is necessary now, nevertheless we have six injuries most of which are contact injuries. You cannot avoid those because football is a sport with direct resistance. We are unlucky I have to say.

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The United boss also elaborated on Rooney's ankle problem and explained the player will need to go through intensive rehabilitation to be fit once more, per MUTV: "It’s a nasty injury. It’s been getting worse but we have to let him train to make the ankle stronger, that’s very important. I cannot say [how long he's out for] because the doctor shall decide that with Wayne of course. He is training well in the rehabilitation."

The Manchester Evening News' Denise Evans did not seem too concerned after Van Gaal announced the England captain would be missing from United's attack:

Van Gaal also commented on Valencia's appointment of United legend Gary Neville as head coach, and said he would follow the former Sky Sports pundit's time in La Liga, per the club's official Twitter account:

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United have been tepid in front of goal this season, and supporters will now get the chance to see how their side performs without their under-fire captain.

Memphis Depay played admirably in the recent game against Watford and should get the nod to replace Rooney alongside Anthony Martial.

In the past, the Red Devils have looked lost when Rooney has been out through injury, but his influence has significantly waned in the past 12 months.

West Ham will bring a strong defence and buoyant counter-attack to Old Trafford on Saturday, and United's young guns will have to prove they can beat opponents without their veteran superstar on the field.