Van Persie still injured and will miss United's clash with Aston Villa
Robin van Persie has been ruled out of Manchester United's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Van Persie has not played for United since he suffered an ankle injury in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea on February 21.
It was expected he would return this weekend after the international break, but manager Louis van Gaal said the Holland striker is still not match fit.
"Robin van Persie is still injured," the United manager said at his weekly press conference at the AON Training Complex.
"We have a process. He has to go to the final football coach before he comes into my group and he is not there yet.
"He is still not in my group."
Chris Smalling came off in the first half of England's 1-1 draw in Italy through illness on Tuesday and he is a major doubt for Villa's visit to Old Trafford.
"Smalling is ill so I don't know if he is available," Van Gaal said.
"(On Thursday) he was at the club, but in the medical department, doing his recovery and so on. (On Friday) I know already that he is not feeling well so it shall be difficult for him."
There is better news regarding Luke Shaw, though.
Shaw missed England's games against Lithuania and Italy due to a hamstring problem, but he is back to full fitness, according to Van Gaal.
The Dutchman said: "Luke Shaw is in my group."
United boosted their chances of Champions League qualification with successive wins over Tottenham and Liverpool before the international break.
Van Gaal's team are now fourth in the Barclays Premier League, five points in front of Liverpool with eight matches left.
If United beat Villa and Arsenal fail to beat Liverpool on Saturday, the Red Devils will move up to second ahead of Manchester City, who play Crystal Palace on Monday.
Being so high in the table would have been unthinkable during the early stages of Van Gaal's reign, but he is good spirits as United head into the home straight.
"I have a good feeling that we can continue against Aston Villa," he said.
"I said when we had 13 points from 11 games and we were getting a lot of criticism that we would see at the end of the season.
"It is still a rat race. Also Tottenham and Liverpool are still in it.
"We have given them a blow but we have to play against the first three still. A lot can still happen."
When asked if his team could catch Chelsea, who lead United by eight points, and win the title, Van Gaal said: "Mathematically, we can still do it."
