Man United loses Carrick to injury, Fletcher to West Ham
Another of manager Louis van Gaal's vice-captains prepared to end his 12-year stay at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER, England: (AP) - Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick was ruled out for about four weeks on Friday, just as another of manager Louis van Gaal s vice-captains prepared to end his 12-year stay at Old Trafford.
Carrick has a muscle injury and could miss up to six games, depriving the team of a player who has been instrumental in its improved results since November.
The England international has shored up United s midfield since returning from a long-term injury during the 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Nov. 2. United has lost only once in 14 games since then, and is fourth in the English Premier League heading into Saturday s home match against Leicester.
Van Gaal also said Darren Fletcher, who like Carrick is a deputy to captain Wayne Rooney, is at West Ham ahead of a potential move to Upton Park. The Scotland midfielder has struggled for first-team opportunities under Van Gaal.
Fletcher made his United debut in 2003, and has played 342 times despite missing almost two years due to ulcerative colitis, a debilitating illness.
"He is an important guy in the dressing room. I like him as a human being and as a player. We shall miss him," Van Gaal said.
"But he has not played so many times; always that is the main goal of a player. We have talked about that. He prefers to play. Therefore, we have helped him to go away. For us, it is a miss, a loss."
