Man United’s Rojo out for season with cruciate ligament injury – reports

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo will miss the rest of the season due to a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to multiple UK newspapers.

Rojo, 27, was stretchered off in the first half of United’s 2-1 Europa League win against Anderlecht on Thursday after committing to a tackle. He tried to play on, but went down minutes later and signalled to the sidelines for a substitute.

On Friday, the Argentina international was confirmed to have torn his ACL and will need surgery that could keep him out until at least September, the reports say.

Rojo’s teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also been diagnosed with a serious cruciate ligament injury, according to ESPN FC, and is likely to be out until January of 2018. The Sweden international landed awkwardly near the end of the full 90 minutes while attempting to reach a lofted pass.

The injury to Rojo, who had become a first-choice defender at Old Trafford leaves Jose Mourinho even more stretched thin in defence, with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling still working their way back from injury.

Mourinho was not optimistic about the injuries to either player following the match on Thursday, but said he was hopeful that Jones and Smalling would be available soon and added Daley Blind would be called upon in their absence.

He said: “We have Daley Blind [in defence] who has experience in the position and I think it is time for Jones and Smalling to be brave and to risk, because for the team you have to do everything.

“You cannot do miracles, so I don’t expect miracles, but we do everything to accelerate the process.

“But even with a crazy mentality, they cannot play Sunday. But with a special spirit, it can be sooner than expected. Instead of mid-May, beginning of May.”