Moyes rules Robin Van Persie out for “few weeks”

Manchester United manager David Moyes conceded that he has no idea when striker Robin Van Persie will return from his groin injury, but that the injury is not a serious one. The former Everton boss also told the club’s official site that he has been trying to no avail to get the Dutchman back from injury for the past few weeks.

Fellow striker Wayne Rooney has been carrying the goalscoring burden for United for the past three games, but is suspended for the visit of Newcastle on Saturday. Whilst Javier Hernandez is waiting in the wings if required, Van Persie would provide Moyes with a timely boost if he were to return to face the Magpies.

Moyes said: “I don’t know (when he will return). We’ve been trying to get him back for a few weeks.

“But he is not ready yet. It’s his groin. It’s a sore groin injury and nothing desperately serious.”

United have not won any of the five games that Van Persie has not started in this season, but have a 66.7% win rate in games in which he has started. In his last appearance, he scored the winner in a 1-0 victory against his old side Arsenal. That game was the last league fixture that United won, with two draws and a loss seeing them slip to 9th in the Premier League table.