Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo sidelined for six weeks with shoulder injury

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is set to be sidelined for a few weeks with a shoulder dislocation

Manchester United’s crisis in defence took a turn for the worse after it was confirmed that Marcos Rojo could be out for at least six weeks after dislocating his shoulder in the Manchester Derby.

The Red Devils lost 1-0 to cross-town rivals Manchester City when Sergio Aguero scored the winner in a game that also saw United defender Chris Smalling sent off for a second yellow card in the first half.

Rojo injured his shoulder when he was trying to slide in to dispossess City defender Martin Demichelis who was making a run towards the United box. The Argentine defender had to be given oxygen and was soon stretchered off.

Rojo could even be out for three months

The 24-year-old had some tests later and they confirmed a full dislocation of the shoulder. The recovery time for an injury of this magnitude is usually six weeks, but it could be longer depending on whether Rojo tore the ligament or just stretched it.

Rojo’s father initially gave the prognosis that he would only miss “two or three games”. “The injury is not severe,” he said on a television channel in Argentina.

But sources from the club confirmed that Rojo would not recover so quickly after a shoulder dislocation.

Rojo was in pain and had to be stretchered off

Manchester United’s defensive crisis

With Rojo out for a few games, and Smalling suspended for the next game against Crystal Palace, United boss Louis van Gaal has a big headache in defence with right back Rafael also unfit.

Michael Carrick slotted in the back four on Sunday and is expected to continue in that role for the game this weekend.

Carrick said after the game: “That position is not something I have played an awful lot. I have had spells of it, playing two or three or four games in a season

“But if I need to play there then fine. I have not had a lot of football recently so I will play anywhere, I don’t mind,” he added.

“Ideally we just need to get players fit and have more options to choose from.”

Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair are the other centre backs available to Van Gaal.