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Manchester United Team News: Robin van Persie fit for Norwich, Phil Jones is still out

Good news: Robin van Persie is not a fitness concern ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Bad News: Phil Jones is.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson just held his weekly press conference ahead of tomorrow's Premier League clash with Norwich City and during it, the main piece of news -- or the bit getting the most attention -- is the announcement that 39-year-old Ryan Giggs will continue on for at least another season at Old Trafford. As for team news, there was this update on the fitness of Robin van Persie and Phil Jones:

"Phil Jones starts running today. He’s got a fight on his hands to be ready for Tuesday (Real Madrid) but we’ll give him every chance. He won't be available for tomorrow (Norwich). We have no injury issues. Robin van Persie has trained this week - he's available for tomorrow. His hip was very tender but he's okay now. Tomorrow is an important one because Tuesday will look after itself. It's an occasion on Tuesday whereas tomorrow is the mundane practical situation in that we need to win."

- Ferguson | Source: ManUtd.com

The return of van Persie is obviously hugely positive. Don't be surprised, though, if the striker is rested from the start against the Canaries since the Real Madrid tie is just three days later. The update on Jones is concerning, but not unexpected. If he's not fit enough to feature tomorrow, then it might be too big of an ask for him to do so at the upcoming midweek. And this is despite the enormous role the versatile defender and midfielder played in helping to contain Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. Ferguson, though, is known to be coy about injury information so any scenario for Jones against Madrid is plausible.

Other unavailable United players include Darren Fletcher (ulcerative colitis) and Paul Scholes (knee).


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