Football
9y

Wayne Rooney fit to play for Man United vs. Hull, David De Gea a doubt

Wayne Rooney will return for Manchester United's final game of the season at Hull, but Louis van Gaal is waiting to discover if David De Gea will be fit to make what he hopes will not be the goalkeeper's final appearance for the club.

De Gea, who is a summer target for Real Madrid, came off in last week's 1-1 draw against Arsenal with a hamstring injury and Victor Valdes could again deputise for his fellow Spaniard on Sunday.

De Gea was named United's Player of the Year for a second successive season on Tuesday but, although he is edging closer to fitness, Louis van Gaal is unsure if the Spain international will be ready to play at the KC Stadium.

"That I don't know yet," the Dutchman told MUTV. "He has trained today [Friday] but only with our goalkeeper trainer. He still has a little problem so I want to wait a day longer because I want him to play against Hull City."

Van Gaal said on Sunday that he felt powerless to persuade De Gea to remain at Old Trafford, but he has now claimed to be confident that the goalkeeper will opt to stay at the club.

"I believe still that David De Gea shall stay and I want to play David De Gea also in the match against Hull City because I want to play my strongest team," he told a news conference. 

Chelsea's Petr Cech has emerged as a possible target for United if De Gea leaves, but Van Gaal said that Valdes is good enough to be at Old Trafford, adding: "Otherwise he shall not be here."

Rooney, who is United's 14-goal top scorer this season, missed the Arsenal game after suffering a dead leg in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on May 9.

And Van Gaal, who had said he thought his captain would not play again this season, confirmed the striker is now fit and will feature.

"Rooney is available," he said. "He is captain, so he shall play."

Rooney could replace Radamel Falcao, who played the first hour of the Arsenal game before being replaced by Robin van Persie.

Hull are managed by former United captain Steve Bruce and will be relegated if they do not win on Sunday, but victory could enable them to stay up at Newcastle's expense.

Van Gaal, however, said United's fondness for Bruce will have no impact on their performance.

"I have told my players in spite of the fact their manager is a Manchester United child that we have to win," he said.

"Why? Also for the Premier League, also for Newcastle United. We have won six points from Newcastle United. We have to win also six points from Hull City, but our away record is not so good. It is very difficult for us to win away."

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