Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that he is still unsure about when Angel di Maria and Daley Blind will be fit enough to return to the squad.
Di Maria and Blind are nursing hamstring and knee injuries, respectively, and they were forced to watch on as United made it four successive wins by beating Stoke City 2-1 on Tuesday evening.
Van Gaal confirmed that Di Maria will miss Monday's meeting with Southampton, while Blind is unlikely to play again before Christmas.
When asked about Blind's condition, the Dutchman told United's official website: "Not next week, I don't know. Christmas maybe, maybe Christmas. At the end of December maybe we see light at the end of the tunnel.
"Di Maria is not so heavy, but of course he shall not play against Southampton."
Van Gaal revealed after the win over Stoke that Wayne Rooney will need to have a scan on his injured knee.