Moyes: Injuries won’t change window plan

Manager David Moyes insists a growing injury list will not affect his transfer window plans at Manchester United this month.

Moyes has confirmed wide-man Ashley Young faces a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury sustained against Spurs New Year’s Day.

In addition, Wayne Rooney – who was pictured leaving a private hospital in Manchester yesterday after having scans on the groin injury troubling him for a couple of weeks – and winger Nani are set to miss tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie with Swansea.

“Wayne has been carrying a groin strain that is not getting that much better,” Moyes said.

“Nani has a serious hamstring injury he picked up in training that is going to keep him out for quite a while.”

Robin van Persie, who has missed six games with a thigh complaint, and Phil Jones, currently absent with a knee injury, are also unlikely to face Swansea along with long-term absentee Marouane Fellaini.

And with Michael Carrick only just back after an Achilles injury and neither Rio Ferdinand nor Nemanja Vidic seemingly capable of playing an extended run of games, the Red Devils could easily find themselves short of bodies as the battle for honours intensifies.

Given there is already a clamour among fans for new faces – especially in midfield – there was a chance Moyes could be pushed into making a move when he was not intending to. However, the Scot insists that will not happen. “It won’t change how we go about things,” said Moyes. “January is not an easy month to purchase in.

“We have a good, big squad that is getting stretched at the moment because of the number of games. But everybody picks up injuries at this time of year. We are no different and we will use the players.”

Having to follow tomorrow’s tie with a visit to Sunderland for the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final just 48 hours later hardly helps the situation. However, Moyes will not be playing a weakened team at the weekend given United’s status as record 10-times winners of the competition, even if the last of those triumphs came a decade ago when new Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was still a player.

“If you are a club like Manchester United, you want to be involved in all the trophy-winning competitions,” said Moyes. “For this club not to have won the FA Cup for 10 years is a bit of surprise. It’s something we will try to do and we will do everything we possibly can to try to get through on Sunday.”

Meanwhile Moyes has thrown a protective arm around Adnan Januzaj and insisted the youngster’s latest booking for diving was wrong. The 18-year-old received his third yellow card of the season for simulation on New Year’s Day, when he went down under Danny Rose’s challenge on the edge of the area during the latter stages of United’s 2-1 defeat by Spurs at Old Trafford.

Januzaj now has the unwelcome tag of being the second worst offender for diving in Premier League history, behind only Gareth Bale.

However, in this instance, the United boss feels his duty is to stand up for Januzaj as he remains convinced referee Howard Webb made a mistake.

“I am always the first one to come out and say I won’t have players diving and I will deal with it,” said Moyes.