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| Phil Jones has not featured for United since suffering a blood clot in his leg |
PHIL JONES is in line for an unexpected comeback after Marcos Rojo failed to flag up an injury and triggered a mini defensive crisis at Old Trafford.
Jones has not figured for Manchester United since being struck down by a blood clot in the leg just before the opening weekend of the season.
But the England international is set to gain a place among United's substitutes against Ipswich Town in tonight's Capital One League Cup tie after Rojo picked up a hamstring in Sunday's 3-2 Premier League win at Southampton.
It was Rojo's first start of the season and boss Louis van Gaal - who is also without Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair to fill the left-back role - evidently feels it could have been avoided.
Van Gaal said: "I thought we were right on time for Rojo because we changed him in the game and he didn't warn us that he was injured.
"I have to admit that because of the injury of three defenders I shall have him (Jones) on the bench.
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| Marcos Rojo was injured in his first start of the season |
"But he is not fit. Maybe he can play 30 minutes. He is a lucky boy that I don't have other substitutes.
"It's not so nice that we have three defenders injured but I can line up 11 players so that is not the problem."
Van Gaal will rotate his squad for the third-round tie at Old Trafford with Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and possibly teenage midfielder Andreas Pereira all in line to start.
It will, however, be a stronger line-up than the one knocked out of the competition 4-0 by MK Dons last season. Of the side that started Van Gaal's third game in charge of United, only David de Gea and forgotten man Nick Powell are still at the club.
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