Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and stand-in full-back Daley Blind are ruled out, alongside Michael Carrick, leaving Chris Smalling and Paddy McNair as the only fit first-team centre-backsManchester United are facing a defensive crisis for Saturday's trip to Chelsea, with Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick all missing through injury.
Jonny Evans is still suspended for the crunch clash at Stamford Bridge meaning Chris Smalling and youngster Paddy McNair are the only recognisable first-team centre-backs available to Louis van Gaal.
Fit again Luke Shaw is likely to replace Blind at left-back while Van Gaal has admitted he could utilise Wayne Rooney in a holding midfield role as he shuffles the pack to cope with the absence of Carrick.
"It is the worst scenario," Van Gaal told MUTV. "Marcos and Phil can both play left central defender, and Jonny Evans is also suspended so I do not have many choices.
"Daley Blind and Michael Carrick could playing holding midfield player and I do not have another option. It is a puzzle."
He added: "Shaw I think is training for a lot of weeks already so he can play. Van Persie is another story - this is the first week he has trained with us, with the first team, but maybe we have to think about him."
The England midfielder has been one of the club's stand out performers in the 2014-15 campaign although was forced off towards the end of United's derby win over Manchester City with a calf injury.
Van Gaal insists the disruption his planning for the meeting with Jose Mourinho's league leaders are "all part of life in football" but will come as a bitter blow as the Red Devils looked to cut the gap at the top.
"They are all from the game against City," the manager added. "Blind played on because he always wants to, but the tackle from Kompany was the reason. Jones injured himself in the second half.
"Rojo, he was complaining [of a knock] after the match, and Carrick was also off. We had a big hope that Blind and Jones could reach this game but they can't."
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