Manchester United transfer news: Kevin Strootman confirms he's 'right on schedule' to return from injury to raise United's hopes

Strootman is a favourite of United manager Louis van Gaal's and could move to Old Trafford if he can prove his fitness

Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman posted an update on his recovery from injury (Twitter/@Kevin_strootman)

Kevin Strootman has given hope to Manchester United after rejecting claims he could announce his early retirement due to the latest of a long line of serious knee injuries.

United manager Louis van Gaal is a big fan of Strootman’s having centralised his Netherlands team around the midfielder, only to see him ruled out of last year’s World Cup when he suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee that kept him sidelined for the best part of nine months.

Having returned to action at the end of 2014, Strootman made just seven appearances before injury struck again, and he was immediately ruled out of the rest of the season having suffered cartilage damage caused by a condition known as Cyclops syndrome.

Concerns over Strootman’s long-term fitness suddenly increased when former Roma club doctor Mario Brozzi admitted that the 25-year-old Dutchman may never play again if his surgery did not go according to plan.

Brozzi told Gold TV: “I don’t know what happened to his knee, but his Cyclops syndrome results from a problem in the ligament’s position. My impression is that the surgery on Strootman’s ligament did not go perfectly.

“The cartilaginous damage is determined by the extensive deficit. Now, if this is the situation, I see no way out. But it’s not up to me to say whether further surgery is needed.”

However, Strootman has hit back at those claims by taking to his Twitter account to post a picture of him during a rehabilitation session, and confirmed that he is “right on schedule” to return for pre-season and will keep his fans updated on his condition.

“Contrary to reports in the media I am back in training and working hard on my comeback,” Strootman said on Twitter. “Please don't believe people who have never seen me in their lives, but just follow the social pages of me and AS Roma where we will keep you updated on my progress. Just for the record, I'm right on schedule to be back when preseason starts.”

The news will be a lift for Van Gaal who is already finalising his plans for United’s transfer business in the summer, where the club are expected to renew their interest in the Netherlands international providing he proves that he has made a full recovery.