Van Persie and Welbeck pick up knocks in Yokohama

For the most part, I couldn't care less about results during pre-season tours. What I do look forward to seeing, though, is the following: new signings (e.g Wilfied Zaha), youngsters being given a chance (e.g. Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard), and hopefully no one becoming injured. Well, on the latter, it appears that strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck picked up knocks yesterday during Manchester United's 2-3 defeat by Yokohama F-Marinos. Don't fret too much, though, as the injuries don't appear to be serious.

Here's David Moyes' update on van Persie, who was substituted off at half-time:

"We've got a couple of wee worries. Robin just felt his thigh in the first half and we didn't want to take any chances."

- Moyes | Source: MUTV

Here's the manager's update on Welbeck, who despite his knock, finished the game after coming on for van Persie at half-time:

"Danny Welbeck felt his groin when he came on and we've just got to make sure they're all okay especially with so many games coming up. We've still got a few games to play before the season starts when we get back home."

- Moyes

United's next friendly on their pre-season tour is on Friday in Osaka when they take on Cerezo Osaka, Shinji Kagawa's old club. That will be followed by a trip to Hong Kong to take on Kitchee FC on Monday. The club's other two established first-team strikers, Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) and Wayne Rooney, currently aren't with the club on tour so it's uncertain who might play up top if RvP and Welbeck sit out Friday's friendly. Wilfried Zaha may be a possibility as he's played the lead striker role recently for England's Under-21 side.

Michael Carrick missed the Yokohama friendly due to a minor groin injury sustained in Australia while the exclusion of Rio Ferdinand was simply a matter of the 34-year-old being given a rest. Rooney, supposedly, will join up with the club when they travel to Sweden to take on AIK Fotboll in early August.