Did contact with the referee aggravate Ander Herrera's injury?

Ander Herrera after being substituted against West Ham following his injury

Footage has emerged which points to Manchester United midifielder Ander Herrera’s contact with the referee during the match against West Ham. It is being said that this contact might have aggravated his rib injury.

The former Athletic Bilbao player who arrived in the summer, has been an integral part of the midfield diamond that has played in the previous matches for United. Herrera has been in the starting eleven for four league games where he has scored twice and assisted for one.

But the mid-fielder has had his fair share of injuries after joining the English Premier League. He missed the games against Sunderland and Burnley with an ankle injury. Now with the rib injury, he will probably be out for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Contact with the Referee forced him off?

(The entire event is shown here in pictures)

There is always an expectation of physicality in the game when playing against West Ham. But the Sam Allardyce side were not to be blamed this time around. The video from the Daily Mail shows the referee Lee Mason in the middle of action. The Spaniard and Mason made contact while Herrera was running past him. The video indicates the 25-year-old colliding with the match official and the player stopped running in immediately. The central midfielder hobbled off in the 76th minute due to the injury.

'Ander sustained a fractured rib during the match against West Ham. (He) was substituted in the 74th minute and the club will continue to monitor his progress over the next few weeks.' A United statement release confirmed.

Herrera was distraught on the injury and tweeted: 'A real shame this injury, but now's not the time to feel sorry for myself. I'm already working to be back as soon as possible!'

With Manchester United facing Everton this weekend, Van Gaal has one more crucial player out injured, and will again have to tinker with his team.