Manchester United blow! Blind suffers ligament damage on Holland duty

Posted Monday, November 17, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Manchester United appeared to have been dealt another injury blow after midfielder Daley Blind suffered suspected torn knee ligaments during Netherlands' Euro 2016 clash with Latvia on Sunday night.

The defensive midfielder hobbled out of the game in Amsterdam, which the Oranje eventually won 6-0, after 20 minutes following a challenge with Eduards Visnakovs.

Following the final whistle, Dutch manager Guus Hiddink confirmed the news and suggested Blind could be facing up to six weeks on the sidelines.

"It doesn't look good," said the boss.

"It is his medial ligament. It could be a strain but also be a tear, so that is a big blow."

United manager Louis van Gaal, who guided the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals in the summer before taking up his post at Old Trafford, has been left counting the cost of the international break.

England midfielder Michael Carrick was sent home ahead of the qualifier against Slovenia because of a groin problem, while goalkeeper David De Gea dislocated his finger while training with Spain.

Blind, who arrived from Ajax for £14million on transfer deadline day, had been deployed as an emergency central defender by Van Gaal following injuries to Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo and the suspension of Chris Smalling.

United, who are currently seventh in the Premier League, travel to Arsenal on Saturday.