Robin van Persie will play no part in Manchester United’s busy holiday programme after being ruled out for a month with a thigh injury, manager David Moyes said yesterday.

With United trying to claw back the damage of a poor first third of the Premier League season, starting at Aston Villa tomorrow, the Dutchman’s absence is a big blow, especially as they have not won in the Premier League without him.

“Robin van Persie is out for a month. He picked up a thigh strain in taking a corner kick which led to the goal (against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday),” Moyes said.

Van Persie, who has scored seven goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, only returned from a groin injury in last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat by Newcastle United, a result that left them in ninth place, 13 points behind leaders Arsenal.

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