Falcao ruled out of Manchester derby, Wayne Rooney returns for Manchester United

Falcao will miss out on the Manchester derby but Wayne Rooney returns

Manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will start in the Manchester derby on Sunday after having served his three-game suspension, dispelling rumours earlier this week that he was injured.

Falcao, however, will once again be out after injuring himself in training a couple of weeks ago, as a result of which he also missed the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Meanshile, winger Antonio Valencia also returns after recovering from his hamstring injury.

Louis van Gaal confirms Wayne Rooney is fit for the derby but Falcao misses out through injury. Antonio Valencia could also feature. #mufc

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2014

The speculation about Rooney being injured started because of him being seen walking gingerly at a sponsor’s event at Old Trafford on Monday. Van Gaal, though, insisted that such reports were well wide off the mark.

“The media was writing that but he was never injured,” he said.

“Maybe his shoes were too tight, that is possible. But he was never injured and he shall play. He is my captain.

“He has scored a lot of goals against City, the most of any player, so I am very happy that he can play, and he shall."

I have not experienced many derbies: Van Gaal

Van Gaal said that he was looking forward to the experience of managing in the Manchester derby, having experienced very few derbies during his time in Netherlands, Spain and Germany.

“It is difficult, because in Spain we had only a derby against Espanyol,” he added.

“In the Netherlands, we had hardly a derby, or you had to call Ajax and Feyenoord one.

“In Munich, we didn't have a derby because 1860 Munich weren't a first division club, so I think this is the biggest derby that I shall manage,” he said.

“It's one of 38 matches, but for the fans it is unbelievably big as a rivalry.”