Manchester United facing a striker crisis with Memphis Depay in line to deputise

  • Manchester United have got a striker crisis for Watford at Vicarage Road
  • Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini are all unavailable
  • Last term United had a three-man forward roster of Rooney, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie
  • Louis van Gaal's options will certainly be limited for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off and he may be forced to turn to £25m signing Memphis Depay

Manchester United's decision not to bolster their striking options beyond the recruitment of Anthony Martial last summer will leave them short at Watford this lunchtime after illness and injury swept through their forward line.

Martial has been a huge hit at Old Trafford since his arrival from Monaco in August but the 19-year-old will miss Saturday's game with a bruised foot and in doing so is expected to join captain Wayne Rooney, who is ill, and Marouane Fellaini, who has a calf strain, on the side lines.

The absence of the three players may open the door for the out-of-favour Dutch international Memphis Depay as United look to cement their place in the top four of the Barclays Premier League with a win at Vicarage Road.

Manchester United's choice not to bolster their striking options beyond Anthony Martial will leave them short

Manchester United's choice not to bolster their striking options beyond Anthony Martial will leave them short

The absence of three strikers may open the door for the out-of-favour attacker Memphis Depay

The absence of three strikers may open the door for the out-of-favour attacker Memphis Depay

But with another United forward, Adnan Januzaj, sitting on the bench on loan at Borussia Dortmund, manager Louis van Gaal and chief executive Ed Woodward may be rueing their decision to reduce last season's three-man forwards roster of Rooney, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie.

Van Gaal said on Friday night: 'Rooney was ill after the international break. I have only seen him the day after he played and then he was at home. Yesterday he was at home so I don't think he can play either.

'Fellaini is also injured, which is a surprise because I thought he would be.

'Martial is not a heavy injury, though. He may be able to play next Wednesday [in the Champions League].'

Van Gaal's options will certainly be limited for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off and he may be forced to turn to another big money summer signing in £25m Depay.

Having been out of favour since United's defeat at Arsenal on October 4, Depay has slipped behind young Jesse Lingard in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Captain Wayne Rooney will miss the Red Devils' match with Watford at Vicarage Road because he is ill

Captain Wayne Rooney will miss the Red Devils' match with Watford at Vicarage Road because he is ill

Asked if he had expected more from Depay, Van Gaal said: 'Of course, because otherwise he would still be in the team. Otherwise I wouldn't look for another solution.

'I have kept Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira, for example, for that option so now he has to fight back and he does it, so I am satisfied. There's always a chance [he will play]. I have to see and compare players.

'Players of that age are not consistent and when at that time you change the player then the other player has a chance. And that other player is Jesse Lingard.

Last term United had a three-man forward roster of Rooney, Radamel Falcao (pictured) and Robin van Persie

Last term United had a three-man forward roster of Rooney, Radamel Falcao (pictured) and Robin van Persie

'I don't have any problems with players but sometimes they are out of the selection because their competitor is in that moment in a better shape but that doesn't mean that I have a quarrel with the player. It's a matter of form.'

Van Gaal has suggested recently that he is happy with the size of his squad but appeared to say yesterday that he rues Januzaj's decision to go on loan to Dortmund. The young Belgian has only started two games for the Germans all season.

Van Gaal revealed there is no way Januzaj can be recalled from loan and added: 'I said in advance that's a big risk for you because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that is not so easy, it's the same thing as in Manchester United.

Dutchman Depay has slipped behind young Jesse Lingard (pictured) in the pecking order at Old Trafford

Dutchman Depay has slipped behind young Jesse Lingard (pictured) in the pecking order at Old Trafford

'He has to compete with higher level players and I want him to play all the matches and that is why I want to play him also in the Premier League but he chose for Borussia Dortmund.

'We have to wait and see [if it's a good move] because now he doesn't play but he has the talent to play.

'I am certain he has the talent to play but he has to learn a lot of things. Talent is important but so is the character to develop your talent. And he can learn that.'

Louis van Gaal revealed there is no way Adnan Januzaj can be recalled from his Borussia Dortmund loan

Louis van Gaal revealed there is no way Adnan Januzaj can be recalled from his Borussia Dortmund loan

 

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