Manchester United injury list: Louis van Gaal waiting on Daley Blind, Robin van Persie and Phil Jones for FA Cup clash with Preston

Three players will have fitness tests for tonight's game at Deepdale

(Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is waiting on the fitness of three players as the team head up the M61 to face Preston North End in the FA Cup tonight.

Midfielder Daley Blind, striker Robin van Persie and defender Phil Jones are all struggling with various knocks despite starting the win against Burnley last week.

The three will face late fitness tests with Jones carrying an ankle problem, Blind a head injury and Van Persie an unknown knock.

One player who is definitely missing is Michael Carrick who suffered a setback to the calf injury that has already seen him miss the last four matches.

Speaking about Blind and Jones on Friday, Van Gaal said: "I don't know. We have to wait and see. I don't think it's a heavy injury for Jones.

"With Blind, I say what the doctor has said – we’ll wait and see. I think he shall play on Monday – that’s my expectation, but you never know."

Van Gaal added: : "[Carrick] has a fallback [setback], and that’s not unusual with injuries, so we will also have to wait and see."

The Dutch coach also admitted that Wayne Rooney is only playing in midfield due to a lack of options, and admitted that he would go back in for a top class midfielder in the summer - Kevin Strootman and Paul Pogba have again been linked.

"Of course [Rooney is playing in midfield because of a lack of options], that is the case. I am looking for balance and I need it in midfield.

"But Rooney is happy, otherwise he would come to me and tell me that he is not happy, but he never does. He is always friendly to me and wants to perform but if the whole world is writing that he should be in the striker’s position, he will be thinking: 'maybe'."