Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo will be out of action for up to six weeks with a dislocated shoulder. The news was confirmed today by manager Louis van Gaal during his pre-match press conference.

Rojo joins an injury list that includes Rafael da Silva, Ashley Young, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling (suspended), Jesse Lingard, Radamel Falcao and Phil Jones.

“Marcos dislocated his shoulder but did it in a positive way,” Van Gaal explained. “We don’t need to operate on him. It is a relief but maybe, with this injury, it is very difficult to prevent it from happening again. That is the problem.”

“He saw a specialist yesterday evening who said the conservative way to heal it is best. For him, it was positive. Always with these injuries, I cannot change that. The human body has been made by God – not by me. Conservatively, it can be less than six weeks. If we have to operate, 12 weeks.”

The United boss also informed the media that defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans are both injured and will not feature during this weekend’s match against Crystal Palace; Chris Smalling is suspended (red card) and is also ruled out of Saturday’s match.

United’s only healthy centre-backs will be teenagers Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett; as well as fellow youth academy product Tom Thorpe.

The belief around Old Trafford is Van Gaal will utilize midfielder Michael Carrick in central defense, partnering the 33-year-old with one of the two 19-year-old defenders. Carrick, who was recalled to the England squad yesterday, has been used as a centre-back in the past. Most recently, this past weekend against Manchester City.

Van Gaal also confirmed that Radamel Falcao is still not fit from a calf injury and will not be in the squad for tomorrow’s match.

Speaking on his side’s injury crisis, the Dutchman downplayed the severity of the ongoing fitness issues at the club, while expressing confidence in himself and the club as a whole.

“When I want to select the same line-up, I cannot. It is like it is and I don’t want to complain or cry because I have great belief in the players, myself and my staff,” Van Gaal said. “Also the supporters who are supporting us despite the results.”

When asked if United should be concerned about its defensive issues (injuries and poor form), Van Gaal responded: “I don’t agree with your opinion of the defense. If you don’t count the five goals at Leicester, we have been better than Chelsea I believe. That’s not the problem, the balance is. That is why I have remodeled the structure of my team. Now I have to solve the problems of the injuries every week, that’s another story.”

The manager was also asked his thoughts on the club’s worst start to a domestic campaign since 1986: “I feel for the fans and also the board because they have belief in me, my staff and my players. 13 points from 10 matches, you are not doing well, but we are in a process. As I have said from the beginning, even when we won five games in the US, the process shall take more than one year. It shall take three years, I hope, though that is dependent on a lot of things. But I think we will make it happen, that we will win a lot of matches.”

The manager went on to say that he feels the club is moving in the right direction and he believes the mood is positive around Old Trafford.

“I have the experience that people have great belief in what we are doing now, in the way we are playing football,” Van Gaal said. “When I am in the streets I am surrounded by very positive things, and when I’m in the car from United, there are lots of positive people.”