Good afternoon! Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will be speaking to the media ahead of his side's match against Queens Park Rangers in around 15 minutes.

Van Gaal hasn't had the smoothest start to life in charge at Old Trafford, with defeats to Swansea City and MK Dons followed by draws with Sunderland and Burnley so far this season. However, new arrivals like Radamel Falcao, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind could help the team to their first win of the season this weekend.

This is actually Van Gaal's second press conference in the space of 24 hours. The manager spoke to reporters yesterday as the club officially unveiled Falcao and Blind, who both joined the club on transfer deadline day just before the international break. Today, Van Gaal will be more focused on this weekend's match.

Van Gaal will be optimistic that a win this weekend will trigger a run of positive results for Man Utd, with matches against Leicester City and West Ham also to come this month, although we've already seen this season that nothing can be taken for granted. However, there's a difficult run of fixtures coming up after that for Van Gaal, with matches against Everton, Man City and Chelsea all in the space of a few weeks.

Man Utd have been hampered by a string of injuries at the start of this season, particularly in defence. Hopefully, the manager will let us know whether any of those who have missed time in recent weeks will be ready to make their return.

Of course, Man Utd will also be without Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, both of whom left the club on transfer deadline day, with the striker heading to Arsenal, while Cleverley completed a loan switch to Aston Villa.

Right then, the manager is in place and ready to speak...

Firstly, some injury news. Van Gaal confirms that there are still nine players carrying injuries: "This week I have nine injuries. Fellaini is not ready. Jones maybe three weeks. Also Carrick, but he is running." Johnstone, Smalling, Lingard, James Young and Wilson are also sidelined, but Luke Shaw is set to make his return to action.

There has been much talk over Van Gaal's team selection following the clubs additions in midfield and up front during the transfer window. When asked about selection, the manager says: "We shall see who plays on Sunday. I am a coach who always decides based on what I have observed."

Van Gaal offers some more information on the team's injury list: "[Shaw] is fit enough to play some minutes. Fellaini is more than a month away, Jones maybe three weeks or a month. Carrick isn't ready but has run for the first time on grass."

After revealing that Phil Jones could miss a number of weeks, Van Gaal adds: Phil Jones may be out for three weeks or a month. But with Jones that is very difficult to say because it it not good to say that, because if it is longer you will say 'Louis, you said three weeks?' That is not good for the player, not good for me, only good for [the media]."

On the remaining injuries, Van Gaal adds: "Johnstone has elbow problems, Smalling isn't fit enough, Wilson and James are not ready yet. Young and Lingard are also injured."

Van Gaal is asked about chief executive Ed Woodward's target of a third-place finish in the Premier League this season. he responds: "I think it is logical perhaps because Manchester United wants to be in the Champions League. We've spoken, about targets, a club like Manchester United has to set targets and I think within the top three is logical."

Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand is likely to feature against his former club on Sunday, having joined QPR over the summer. When asked about the defender, Van Gaal answers: "There is a time to stay and a time to go, Rio decided to go. He was a great player, maybe is still a great player."

On the expectation of the fans following the arrival of a new manager and several big name signings this summer, the Dutchman says: "The fans shall expect a new start of course, but we have to build up a new hierarchy and that always need time. We've done very well in the transfer market. That's a big plus, and we have to produce results, starting against QPR."

Well that's it from Van Gaal this week, but join us again on Sunday for the full coverage of the match. Until then, thanks for joining us this afternoon, goodbye.