Steven Defour has explained that persistent injury problems is the reason why his mooted move to Manchester United never came to fruition.

Defour was regarded as one of the finest young midfielders in Europe back in 2009 and a host of clubs including United were very keen on making a swoop for the Belgian international at the time.

Evidently a transfer to Old Trafford did not occur and now the Burnley star has gone on to explain that injury issues meant that he could not join a club such as United, despite both parties keen on facilitating the deal.

Defour told Sky Sports: "Before my injury it [a United move] was one of the possibilities, because I knew they were following me but then came that severe injury and that was quite a hard one from me.

"It was an open fracture of my foot and I was really down because, for the first time, I could have played in the Champions League and then three days before I broke my foot so I was really down.

"It was difficult to find my form before my injury to have the level of a club like Manchester United."