De Gea’s return for United against Hammers is ‘touch and go’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says David De Gea is “touch and go” for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with high-flying West Ham having returned to England following the birth of his first child.
Despite the potential coronavirus-related quarantine headaches, the Red Devils boss had no hesitation in allowing the 30-year-old to fly to Spain to be with his partner for the birth of their child last week.
Solskjaer said last Friday that he expected De Gea “to be available very soon” and said they “just have to follow the Government rules” after the goalkeeper missed last Wednesday’s draw at Crystal Palace.
Dean Henderson deputised that night and impressed again in Sunday’s 2-0 win against Manchester City, but he was found wanting when AC Milan made it 1-1 at the death in Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first leg.
Asked about De Gea’s availability for West Ham’s visit on Sunday, Solskjaer said: “Yeah, David is back in Manchester. He is quarantining or self isolating.
“He’s just touch and go for Sunday, I think. I can’t really know when he came back, so I’m not really sure if it was Monday or Tuesday that he arrived back in Manchester.”
Current regulations allow travellers from Spain to be released from quarantine if they test negative for Covid-19 after five days of isolation.
Pushed to clarify De Gea’s situation, the United boss added: “I think the rules are that he’s got to stay at home.
“He’s not training with us anyway. It’s different if you travel away and compete so, no, he’s not been training since he came back.”
De Gea would return to a side that are beginning to count the cost of injuries after getting through the frantic festive period relatively scot free.
Anthony Martial needs assessing after a hip complaint forced him off at half-time on Thursday, compounding the absence of fellow frontmen Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani.
“Anthony, he got a whack on his hip so that’s another forward that we need to scan and have to look at,” Solskjaer said. “Definitely hope Marcus is back for next Thursday in Milan, I’m not sure if he’ll make Sunday, but fingers crossed because we will need him. Edinson I don’t think will be ready for Sunday, no.”
Paul Pogba, Donny van de BeekandJuanMataarealsoset tobeoutoftheHammers’visit.
Former Sunderland striker James Vaughan says he wanted to ‘put right’ his disappointment of two years ago at Wembley tomorrow – before injury struck.
The 32-year-old was set to line-up for Tranmere Rovers inthePapaJohn’sTrophyfinal, but has instead been forced to undergo surgery on a troublesome knee injury.
And it means Vaughan will be unable to rectify his last visit to Wembley – where he was an unused substitute as Portsmouth beat Sunderland in the EFL Trophy final.
The striker wasn’t able to make an impact against his former employers on that day and will be forced to watch from the stands again tomorrowasTranmerelooktospring a shock.
Speaking to the EFL Podcast,Vaughansaid:“It'sanhonour to play at Wembley.
“I'vedoneitbeforeandIwas at Portsmouth, but I didn't reallyplayandIdidn'tplayinthat final. So it would have been a greatopportunityformetoput that right this weekend.
“But it wasn't to be so you just have to move on. I'll be there supporting the lads hopefully and I'm sure we'll enjoy the occasion and hopefully get the win”
"For me, the biggest blow is not being able to help the team in the league,” he added.
“The Papa John's is great to play in and to get to the final, but our bread and butter is the league. It's very tight at the top and I'm just disappointed I can't help out.”
*Sunderland’s new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will attend a video meeting with the club’s supporter groups later this month. The Red & White Army confirmed that a structured dialogue will take place on Wednesday, March 24 via Zoom.