Seattle: Marouane Fellaini is facing a battle to claim a regular midfield place for Manchester United after Louis van Gaal admitted that the Belgian’s pre-season preparations had been affected by his looming three-game domestic ban.

Fellaini will miss United’s first three Premier League games next month, against Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United, as a result of being sent off for stamping on Hull City’s Paul McShane on the final day of last season.

Van Gaal described the 27-year-old as “unbelievably stupid” following the incident at the KC Stadium and the Belgian was one of only two fit outfield players — Sean Goss the other — who played no part in United’s pre-season tour victory against the Mexican outfit Club America in Seattle on Friday.

With Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger making their United debuts in Seattle — Schneiderlin’s fifth-minute header secured a 1-0 win — and Michael Carrick returning from a calf injury to play 45 minutes, competition for midfield positions appears intense, with Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Daley Blind and youngster Andreas Pereira also appearing against Club America.

However, with United due to face the Major League Soccer team San Jose Earthquakes in California on Tuesday, Van Gaal did little to suggest that Fellaini would make a belated entry into the pre-season action in that game.

“Fellaini is suspended for the first three matches and he has longer to be ready,” the United manager said. “So I have to look at other players.”

Van Gaal, meanwhile, has hinted at retaining Javier Hernandez in his squad this season, despite telling the Mexican forward last season that he had no future at United.

Hernandez, who sustained a collarbone injury on international duty last month, is due to join the United squad in San Jose next Saturday and Van Gaal admitted that the summer departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao had created an opportunity for the 27-year-old.

“Hernandez is coming on July 25,” Van Gaal said. “OK, he can prove himself. Now Falcao and Van Persie are gone, his chances are better.”

United will fly to San Jose on Monday after extending their stay in Seattle in order to continue to use the training facilities of the National Football League franchise, the Seattle Seahawks.

— The Sunday Telegraph