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Robin van Persie plays first game in nine weeks for Man Utd

Robin van Persie: Will be desperate to help United  secure their Champions League spot
Image: Robin van Persie: Will be desperate to help United secure their Champions League spot

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie got an hour's play under his belt on Monday night in his first game since February 21.

The 31-year-old Dutchman had been out for over two months since injuring his ankle against Swansea and was on the bench in Sunday's defeat at Chelsea but he made the starting line-up for the U-21 side in a 1-1 draw at Leicester City.

With forward Radamel Falcao still struggling to impress upfront for Louis van Gaal's first team, the sight of Van Persie surviving 62 minutes, including an assist for Sean Goss's equaliser, would have been very welcome for the management team at Old Trafford.

Defender Jonny Evans also made his first appearance since March 4 having completed his six-match suspension for spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse.

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Evans produced a fairly robust 90-minute performance, going close from a free-kick before the break but perhaps may take some of the blame for allowing Harry Panayiotou too much room to score an early opener for the Foxes.

However, there was some worrying news for United with injuries picked up at the King Power Stadium by Adnan Januzaj and Rafael da Silva.

Both have also had stuttering campaigns under Van Gaal and would have been keen to impress for Warren Joyce's side, but both limped off inside an hour.

Brazilian defender Rafael injured his rib just before the interval, while Belgian winger Januzaj suffered a problem with his ankle, pulling up after chasing a ball down the right wing on 56 minutes and was taken off.

James Wilson wasted a great chance in injury time to score the winner for United as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Van Gaal will be hoping Van Persie will be 100 per cent fit for Sunday's crucial Premier League trip to Everton.

Watch Everton v Man Utd on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1, kick-off 1.30pm 

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