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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said Friday that defender Luke Shaw is in surprisingly good spirits after having his leg broken against PSV Eindhoven and could fly back to England this weekend.
Shaw sustained a double fracture in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat in the Champions League and has stayed in the Netherlands after having surgery on the night of the game.
Van Gaal said he had called the 20-year-old left back Thursday night.
"He sounds very strong, which was amazing for me - a big surprise," the Dutchman told reporters. "It is a good signal, but he knows he has long way to go and it is not easy... He will have a long period of rehabilitation and he has a long way to go."
For the moment, though, the player's focus will be on returning home.
"His family is there, we have sent people with him and he will come back when he is prepared," Van Gaal said. "Maybe tomorrow."
Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young were cited by Van Gaal as potential replacements on the left side of defense.
The good news for United fans on the injury front is that Wayne Rooney will be fit to face Southampton on Sunday, after missing the last two matches with a hamstring injury.
"He is back, it was a minor injury and we didn't want to take risks," Van Gaal said. "But he has had training and treatment and I think he can start."
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