Team News: Van Persie out and Carrick unlikely to start against Newcastle (4/3/15)

Via ManUtd.com:

van Gaal has stated that van Persie and Carrick are the only definite absentees from the squad to face Newcastle tomorrow evening.

The centre-forward is still missing with an ankle injury and Michael Carrick is unlikely to start despite being on the bench for the win over Sunderland last weekend.

Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Victor Valdes were missing from the squad that faced Sunderland last Saturday however all three should return for Wednesday's game at St. James' Park.

MUTV asked the manager about the trio's chances of featuring at St James' Park. "It is difficult to say as, in every training session, you can be injured or the fatigue specialist can say he is not fit enough to play a game," explained van Gaal. "And then I have to decide not to use that player. So it's always difficult to say but the only injured player is van Persie.

"It is too quick to say anything about that [a length of absence for the striker]."

Carrick may not return to the field in his native North East but the midfielder is very much in the manager's thinking because of his experience.

"I think it is too early for Michael Carrick," added van Gaal. "He trained now in three training sessions with us. Because of the three players I didn't bring with us [against Sunderland], he was in the 18 and I took a risk with that. As a substitute, you can play 20 minutes, which he can do. He has the experience so I can make an exception. He is also a captain, so I can make an exception but it is not often I do that."