Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a calf injury.

The last time Carrick featured for United was during his side’s 4-2 victory of Manchester City on April 12. The midfielder removed himself from that contest in the closing minutes after feeling a problem in his calf and has subsequently missed the team’s last three games – successive defeats to Chelsea, Everton and West Brom.

Last week, when asked if Carrick would feature again this season, Louis van Gaal was optimistic of that the team’s vice-captain would return to the lineup.

However, during an interview with MUTV, Van Gaal announced the news United fans had been fearing for weeks.

“Carrick is not available, it was more heavy than we thought,” the manager said. “We tried everything but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it’s better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start.

“When you see the stats, it’s clear that he’s very important but that’s also because we have only right-sided holding midfielder. That what I am saying already the whole of the season, that out selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period.

“The life is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it’s close by. That’s why I have to handle again in that position.”

This season Carrick was deployed as a defensive midfielder, the key player in the transition between attack and defense that has defined teams at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, and now Louis van Gaal.

The England international’s vision and ability to read the game is fantastic. His capacity to facilitate others makes him extremely valuable. With Carrick at the base of the midfield he brings players into the attack and allows the team to build from the back.

His absence has been noticeable. Since he walked off the pitch at Old Trafford on April 12, United have not scored and have conceded six times.

This season, with Carrick in the starting eleven, United have a 72 percent win ratio – without him, it’s 35 percent.

United need four points from their final three games in order to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

It will be interesting to see if the team finds a solution to the void left by the absence of their influential midfielder.

In other team news: Luke Shaw has been declared fit to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. Jonny Evans is also fit, but Van Gaal has said the defender is short of “match fitness”.

Programming note: Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United will be shown LIVE on Saturday at 12:30pm EST on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra.