A rift with Van Persie? David Moyes rejects reports that Robin van Persie is unhappy at Old Trafford

Robin van Persie and David Moyes at a Manchester United training session

A rift with Van Persie? Manchester United manager David Moyes rejects reports that Robin van Persie is unhappy at Old Trafford

Manchester United manager David Moyes says Robin van Persie has been playing with pain-killing injections in his toes and has dismissed reports that the Dutch striker is unhappy at Old Trafford

David Moyes has dismissed as “complete nonsense” suggestions that Robin van Persie has become unhappy at Manchester United, insisting that injuries, rather than discontent, are the reason for the Dutch forward’s frustration.

Speculation emanating from Holland has hinted at Van Persie being unimpressed by Moyes’s management style, with the more intense training regime under the Scot, as opposed to that favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson, cited as a key grievance on the part of the 30-year-old.

Van Persie, who will undergo a fitness test ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Stoke City at Old Trafford after missing Wednesday’s Champions League victory against Real Sociedad with toe and groin problems, stated in Holland last month that he was “happy with the style of Moyes” and that he “prepares us with his staff very well”.

Having missed four games this season due to injury, Van Persie has been unable to replicate the eye-catching form of last season – highlighted by detailed performance statistics of his contribution to the team – but Moyes insists there is no substance to the claims that the player is not content at United.

“That’s complete nonsense,” Moyes said. “He had a couple of sore toes and I told him before the Southampton game last Saturday that, if I played him in that, he would miss the Sociedad game to try to give his toes and groin a rest.

Adapted from The Telegraph