Injured Nasri on the way back

MANCHESTER City midfielder Samir Nasri has revealed he needed almost 100 stitches in the thigh muscle injury that has sidelined him since October.

The French playmaker is hoping to return in March, having feared earlier that his season had been ended when he damaged a thigh muscle and tendon in a freak training injury.

“The original estimate was that I’d be out for up to six months, but I’ve already done two months and I’m targeting the international break in March to be back properly,” Nasri said.

“I had to have an operation that resulted in nearly 100 stitches in my thigh. My surgeon told me this was a rare injury as the muscle had detached from the bone and the tendon was also 90 per cent detached and had to be stitched back together. It doesn’t happen very often.”

Nasri (28) had only just returned from injury when the incident occurred.



MANCHESTER United boss Louis van Gaal reportedly offered to resign after the 1–0 defeat by Southampton, but executive vice–chairman Ed Woodward talked him out of it and wants the Dutchman to see out the season.

The Guardian reported that van Gaal talked it over with his family over the weekend and was set to give his answer to Woodward when he returned to the club for training today.