Wayne Rooney could make Man United return against Norwich

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney could return to action in Saturday’s Premier League home clash with Norwich.

Rooney has missed the last three games due to an ankle injury, but United boss Louis van Gaal confirmed on Friday the striker had been back in training for a full week.

“Three or four players are coming back,” Van Gaal said.

“They have trained a full week – Rooney has, for example. It is possible he can play, but we have to wait and see.”

Rooney’s next appearance will be his 500th as a United player.

He has only scored once for the club since October, and Van Gaal added: “I hope when he plays he scores a goal, because it is a big day for him.”

Van Gaal also revealed that defender Chris Smalling and midfielder Ander Herrera, recently sidelined by groin and hamstring problems respectively, have trained all week ahead of the Norwich match.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has expressed his surprise at Jose Mourinho being sacked by Chelsea.

“What can I say? It was a big surprise to me, I didn’t expect that,” he said.

“He is a fantastic manager with a record that nobody has in this football world, but it is still possible.

“What I said in my own press conference is that the main thing is always, of course, first the results and second the chemistry between the players and the manager and staff.

“I cannot judge what was happening at Chelsea, but I was very surprised.”

Van Gaal’s own position is under scrutiny, with United having gone five games in all competitions without a win.

When asked if the fact Mourinho had been axed so soon after guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title showed that no manager was safe, Van Gaal said: “Yes, it is like that. But we know that in advance. Also Jose knows that. This is the world.”

There have been reports of unrest within the United camp over results and the style the team are playing under Van Gaal.

But when asked if the chemistry between him and his players was fine, Van Gaal said: “Yes, it’s fine – but I’ve said that already more than once.

“I have seen articles that it’s not like that. It’s a bit crazy I think, but that is this world.”

Van Gaal is confident that he has the backing of the players and club’s hierarchy, although knows United need to start winning quickly, saying too many losses “for me it’s the end of the world.”

The Dutchman – whose side are out of the Champions League and six points behind leaders Leicester in the Premier League – said: “I have the full confidence of my board and my players, I feel.

“But we have to get results. We have to win, and we know that – the players know it, I know it and my staff know it.

“We have to win because when you lose too much, also for me it’s the end of the world.”

United have drawn four of their last six home games 0-0 and some United fans have been voicing their frustration at matches with boos and shouts of “attack, attack, attack”.

Asked about that disgruntlement and whether he felt the supporters were still with him, Van Gaal said: “It’s always like that when you lose.

“The board of directors can see what you can do as a manager in practice but the fans cannot see that, so when you lose you need the belief of the fans, and that is a question for the fans not the manager to answer.”

While it remains to be seen whether Rooney, Smalling and Herrera return to the team this weekend, United will definitely still be without a significant number of players.

Jesse Lingard, who came off in last weekend’s 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, is unavailable, along with Matteo Darmian (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (foot) and Luke Shaw (leg).

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will also sit out once again due to suspension.

Winger Ashley Young, an unused substitute against Bournemouth, is a doubt due to a slight knock.