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Wilson has scored three goals in the Championship for the Seagulls. Mike Egerton

Louis van Gaal refuses to recall James Wilson despite being left with just 2 fit strikers

Anthony Martial and Will Keane are the only recognised strikers available to LVG.

MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Louis van Gaal will not recall on-loan striker James Wilson despite an injury to Wayne Rooney.

England captain Rooney could miss up to two months of action with a knee ligament injury, leaving Van Gaal with just Anthony Martial and Will Keane as recognised strikers in his squad.

But Wilson – who has scored three goals in 12 appearances for Brighton since joining the Championship outfit in January – will not be brought back to Old Trafford by the veteran Dutch coach.

And the former Barcelona boss has backed Memphis Depay to provide him with an option in a central role going forward.

“No,” he told reporters when asked whether Wilson would be recalled. “At this point I can call James Wilson back, but at this point I have possibilities with Will Keane and Anthony Martial.

“Also there is Memphis Depay.”

After spending the first half of the season on loan at Preston, Keane has made just one Premier League appearance this term – having come off the bench in the late stages of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.

Martial, meanwhile, has scored seven goals in 21 games in the English top flight.

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    Mute Colm Casey
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:06 PM

    He’ll probably still play martial out wide, the plonker

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    phil
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    Mute phil
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:50 PM

    Its grand sure he has Romero there he can stick De Gea up front

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    Mute Kieran Campbell
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:13 PM

    LVG is clearly a genius, he is doing as much as possible at M.U. so that getting auto qualified for the CL cannot happen, thus he will be fired and then get a huge pay off. Genius.

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:41 PM

    His contract is null and void if he doesn’t qualify for Champion’s League. Same happened to Moyes. They didn’t have to pay him the rest of his contract.

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    Mute Conor
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:44 PM

    Who told you this david

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    Mute Conor
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:48 PM

    Conor, why do you think United waited until it became mathematically impossible to qualify for the CL to sack Moyes?

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    Mute Colin Higgins
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    Feb 18th 2016, 4:42 PM

    It just means he gets less than if they sacked him with CL qualification. Moyes still earned like 7m for the rest of his 6 year deal. LVG will still get paid off. Just not a lot.

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    Mute Martin Fahy
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    Feb 18th 2016, 6:56 PM

    That’s nonsense, he loses performance bonuses only if he achieves the target of CL qualification.
    He is contracted until Summer 2017 and if he is sacked his contract will have to be paid up so there is no chance he will be be resigning unless a deal is mutually agreed.
    You are also incorrect about Moyes. It is well documented that Man Utd agreed a payoff of £5.2 million with Moyes in late 2014 several months after he was sacked, certainly not qualifying for the CL affected his contract terms but he still got £5.2m on top of his £7m salary.
    Not a bad few months work !

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    Mute Martin Fahy
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    Feb 18th 2016, 6:57 PM

    Correction line 1 ‘if he fails to achieve’

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    Mute Mark Nugent
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    Feb 18th 2016, 4:11 PM

    To call Wilson back for 6 weeks is a bit draft really . If hes getting regular football leave him there. Besides What happens when Rooney comes back ? The lad sits on the bench for the remainder cause that’s what would happen then .

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    Mute Seanie Bourke
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:10 PM

    Why are we shocked anymore about anything this crazy man does….

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    Mute michael kehoe
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    Feb 18th 2016, 2:35 PM

    Dreadful appointment, knee jerk reaction. Old school yesterday’s man. Body language alone illustrates the negative and clueless approach he has brought to the club. Journey man leaving with bags of money.

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    Mute Michael O' Riordan
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    Feb 18th 2016, 4:30 PM

    He is some yobbo!

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