Manchester United striker Will Keane will require surgery on a groin injury, manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed.
Keane, 23, suffered the injury when making his second appearance for United this season, as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town on Feb. 22. His first appearance for the United first team this season had also come as a substitute, against Sunderland nine days earlier.
The injury was sustained when Keane over-stretched to reach a loose ball and the setback is unfortunate timing for a player who's only recently been recalled from a loan spell at Preston -- where he had been playing regularly in the first half of the season.
Discussing his striking options, Van Gaal said: "I have [Wayne] Rooney, I have [Anthony] Martial, I have [Marcus] Rashford. I had Will Keane, but Keane is injured and will be operated on. When I have more players then I will rotate."
With Rashford having scored four goals in his first two appearances for United, Keane's hopes of starting for United in the remainder of the season would have been further reduced even without his injury woe. Keane has consistently struggled for first team opportunities at Old Trafford throughout his club career, having previously been sent out on loan to Wigan Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, and Sheffield Wednesday -- as well as the recent spell at Preston.
Keane is one of three United strikers on their injury list, which includes Rooney, but Martial could feature in Wednesday night's home match against Watford.
Keane has been dogged by injury problems throughout his career, having suffered a troublesome knee ligament injury in 2012.