Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini has withdrawn from the national squad due to an apparent calf injury, adding to Manchester United’s injury woes.
The 28-year-old picked up an injury during Manchester United’s 3-1 victory against Swansea City on the weekend, and will now return back to his club from the national setup. The Belgian FA took to Twitter to announce head-coach Roberto Martinez’s comments on the midfielder’s injury.
R. Martínez : “@Fellaini picked up an injury against Swansea City and will go back to his club!” #nedbel#tousensemble
— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) November 8, 2016
According to Bruce Archer of the Metro, Fellaini picked up an injury on his calf after playing the entire 90 minutes at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. The Belgian destroyer has featured frequently under new manager Jose Mourinho this season – starting in eight of United’s eleven league games.
After the staggering £89 million spent on Paul Pogba in the summer, along with the presence of midfielders like Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Morgan Schneiderlin, Fellaini looked destined to warm the bench at the club this season. The Belgian was one of the central figures in Louis van Gaal’s dismal second campaign at the Manchester outfit and was often made a scapegoat by the Old Trafford faithful.
However, Mourinho’s faith in him has seen Fellaini’s performances improve incredibly and is arguably enjoying his best season in a Manchester United jersey. While he is still to command the midfield and dictate terms, he has been a quality physical presence in the middle of the park of Mourinho’s side.
Thus, his injury will be a huge blow for the Red Devils who have key fixtures against Arsenal and Feyenoord lined up after the international break. There has been no timeline announced on a potential return date for Fellaini, but it is likely that he will miss the next two games for Manchester United.
