Van Gaal: Wayne Rooney not back until April

England travel to world champions Germany in a friendly on March 26 before they face Holland three days later at Wembley.

Manchester United’s injury list tally now sits at 17 after Donald Love limped off in the club’s Under-21 clash with Middlesbrough. The initial prognosis was that he would be out of action for six to eight weeks.

The 30-year-old was originally ruled out until April but reports over the weekend suggested he was ahead of schedule.

The Daily Star Sunday says Rooney is facing the threat of a knee operation which would end his season.

However, the England striker is not expected to be in any danger of missing Euro 2016.

Van Gaal says the forward is now wearing a protective brace to stabilise the injury while he works on returning to fitness. He has a brace now and he has to wear it for two-and-a-half weeks, and then we have to look again.

Rooney’s last game was against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 13 February, a match the Black Cats won 2-1.

“For now, he is resting because of the brace”.

United will be without Rooney for the visit of Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Van Gaal and Co. looking to reclaim fifth position in the Premier League.