Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao's hopes of picking up his match fitness has suffered a setback.
The Daily Express says the postponement of United's under 21 fixture against neighbours City this weekend means the second string will not play again until January 9.
And that will hit Falcao's chances of forcing his way back into the first team. The Colombian striker has not started a game since injuring a calf in October and Louis van Gaal has refused to rush him back until he has had some competitive action for the reserves.
Van Gaal adopted the same policy when Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans came back from injuries earlier this season.
Falcao, who has yet to complete a full 90 minutes since his loan move from Monaco, was left unused on the bench at Southampton on Monday after two brief outings as a substitute in the previous two games against Hull and Stoke.
