“I don’t know if we can win against Manchester City ” Man United face injury crisis ahead of Community Shield with question marks over FOUR defenders ruled out

“I don’t know if we can win against Manchester City ” Man United face injury crisis ahead of Community Shield with question marks over FOUR defenders ruled out

Manchester United have just three fit senior defenders and face a headache on the eve of the Community Shield with Erik ten Hag revealing there are question marks over four key players.

United are already without £59million summer signing Leny Yoro, with the young centre back sidelined for three months after surgery on a foot problem.


Ten Hag oversaw a nightmare injury situation last season with more than 60 separate cases and now, as he prepares his players to take on Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday, four defenders have question marks over their fitness.

‘Harry Maguire missed the game [against Liverpool in the USA] as a precaution but he is still a question mark for Saturday,’ Ten Hag revealed on Thursday.

‘We have training and we have to see whether he is fit enough or not to be available.’


Maguire was a key figure amid the injury crisis last season but he has been dealing with a calf issue that saw him play limited minutes on United’s pre-season tour, managing a half of action against Real Betis and Arsenal.

The Englishman spoke earlier in the summer at how missing out on United’s FA Cup win over City at Wembley, which booked their spot in Saturday’s Community Shield, was one of the ‘toughest moments of his career’.

But there are also concerns around the fitness of Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.

‘Victor played [against Liverpool] but also he’s a question mark and also Azza and Luke Shaw are both question marks,’ he added. ‘We have to assess them tomorrow.’

It means that Lisandro Martinez, who only returned to Carrington this week following a break after Argentina’s Copa America win, may need to be rushed back to action with United having only three fit senior defenders.

Jonny Evans, who went off ill in the defeat to Liverpool but has since trained, and Diogo Dalot are the other two.

Asked whether returning players, such as Martinez, are ready to go straight into action after such little training, Ten Hag remained coy.

‘Everyone [returning] has a different background,’ he continued.

‘We put them on off-season programmes but they have had different starts while we were in USA.

‘We will assess them, make a decision whether they start, come from the bench or whether they don’t play.’

 


Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*