• Captain was ruled out of midweek win over Stoke • Robin van Persie under pressure for place

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Manchester United have received a boost with Wayne Rooney declared fit for Manchester United’s trip to Southampton after a scan on Thursday to examine a knee problem revealed nothing untoward.

His availability means Robin van Persie could come under pressure for a starting berth for the Monday night match after James Wilson’s impressive showing in Tuesday evening’s 2-1 win over Stoke City.

The 19-year-old started alongside Van Persie in attack, with Louis van Gaal having stated beforehand he might have named Wilson in the XI for Saturday’s victory over Hull if he had been fit. “I would have brought him already on Saturday but he was ill,” said the manager.

As Rooney is an automatic choice and Van Persie had been under considerable pressure going into that game it seems the Dutchman could have been dropped for Wilson.

Rooney had become the 42nd separate injury or illness suffered by Van Gaal’s team when he received the knock at the close of victory over Hull.

The captain was ruled out of the win over Stoke at Old Trafford with the manager saying: “In my opinion it is not so heavy but I am not a doctor.”

Van Gaal’s view was proved right following the tests so Rooney should now take his place in the team at Southampton.