Manchester United youngsters McNair and Thorpe in squad for West Ham clash

Posted Saturday, September 27, 2014 by Goal.com

Louis van Gaal says he is worried by the amount of injuries his players are picking up and says Daley Blind will not feature at centre-back at Old Trafford on Saturday

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that he has called Under-21s defenders Paddy McNair and Tom Thorpe into his squad for Saturday's clash with West Ham.

The Red Devils are short on numbers in central defence as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans are all injured while Tyler Blackett is suspended following his red card against Leicester City.

Van Gaal has therefore turned to his youngsters as he seeks to bounce back from their 5-3 defeat at the King Power Stadium.

"They are in the squad. That is always why we have a youth education," he told MUTV of the pair.

"It was also our policy [to utilise the youth squads] and always the policy of the club too."

"The amount of injuries is worrying me and they are not coming back."

"Smalling is already, for the third time, injured. Evans also. Jones had one injury in the national team, which was unfortunate."

The Dutchman also ruled out the possibility of the versatile Daley Blind dropping into defence against Sam Allardyce's side.

"I don't like having too many left-sided defenders or left-footed players in defence," he remarked.

"I think always of balance so [instead] I have to pick up a right-sided central defender from the youth education."

"Normally, I am always doing things like that. I have already said that we have a lot of vacancies when you buy only six players and let 14 players go."