Blow for England as Tom Cleverley picks up injury

Tom Cleverley

England midfielder Tom Cleverley has returned to Manchester United for treatment for a thigh injury that he picked up in training yesterday. Definitely ruling him out of England’s double header with Montenegro and Poland, further scans are needed to determine the length of time that the former Watford loanee will be missing for.

Whilst Cleverley’s injury is a personal blow for the midfielder, the England squad is strong enough to absorb it. He was unlikely to start either game anyway, but his absence does remove an energetic option from the bench – leaving Jack Wilshere as the only conventional centre midfield player under the age of 32.

The long-term prognosis of Cleverley’s injury is yet to be determined, but his club will be hoping to have the midfielder back for their clash with Southampton next week.

United are slightly lacking in central midfield options at the moment, but have been boosted by the news that Marouane Fellaini’s wrist injury isn’t as bad as first feared. The Belgian is set to play with his wrist in a protective cast, and has delayed surgery on it until the New Year, or until any enforced suspension break.

Cleverley has been battling with the Belgian for United’s second midfield slot, next to Michael Carrick. In a week that began with it looking as if he could make the role his own due to Fellaini’s injury, the better forecast for Fellaini combined with Cleverley’s own injury means that the tables have turned on the midfielder in the fight to partner Carrick.

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Cleverley made 95% of his passes in last weekend’s game away at Sunderland – misplacing just three of 61 attempted passes.