According to Manchester United official website, defender Phil Jones was left out of the squad for the game against Tottenham Saturday because the player has mild thrombosis, and that he will be sidelined for three weeks. Thrombosis is the formation of coagulated blood in a particular part of the circulatory system.
Speculation was rife during pre-season about whether Louis van Gaal will start Jones in the central defensive position for the first game of the season. However, the Dutch manager was forced to play Daley Blind as Chris Smalling’s partner at the heart of the defence yesterday against Spurs.
Blind did not appear comfortable as that is not his preferred and usual position. But Smalling put up an admirable display and he slightly missed out on the man of the match award to new signing Matteo Darmian – who performed impressively on his debut.
The Red Devils were linked to Sergio Ramos, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones throughout the summer but it appears none of the aforementioned defenders will be marshalling the team’s defence this season as talks have proved abortive.
United will be able to field Marco Rojo as Chris Smalling’s centre half partner when the Argentina international returns to full fitness as he just returned to training after participating in the Copa America tournament.
Jones has a series of injury records and it is left to be seen whether van Gaal will decide to stick with him or sell him. The 23-year old is an England international with 17 caps and, he joined United from Balckburn in 2011 under Alex Ferguson’s reign.
Johnny Evans is also another defender who could be leaving Old Trafford this summer, as his coach does not really rate him. Everton have been mooted as a potential destination for the Irish defender.