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Manchester United have a number of injuries affecting key players as they head into the final few weeks of the season, starting on Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
Erik ten Hag’s hopes of adding the Europa League to the already earned Carabao Cup were ended with a 3-0 defeat at Sevilla on Thursday night, going out 5-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
The Red Devils have suffered without the aggressive and confident defending of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane but still have the chance to claim a 13th FA Cup should they beat Brighton and then win in the final.
Here’s the latest squad news ahead of the game.
Lisandro Martinez
Martinez fractured a metatarsal in his right foot during the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie with Sevilla. He was carried off the pitch and United later confirmed he wouldn’t play again this season.
Raphael Varane
Compounding Martinez’s injury was another knock to Varane, who has been brilliant when not sidelined this year. No timeframe has been put on the Frenchman’s return after he went off at half time in that first Sevilla leg.
Donny van de Beek
Forever the forgotten man since signing for Man Utd in 2020, Van de Beek has a knee injury which required surgery and won’t play again this season.
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho picked up an ankle problem during the goalless draw with Southampton in March. He has, however, been included in in the preliminary Argentina squad for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which could see him miss United’s last few games of the season.
Tom Heaton
Heaton’s foot injury has ruled him out of deputy goalkeeper action since mid April, with 19-year-old Radek Vitek being named on the bench on Thursday night. Could return to the squad here.
Phil Jones
Had been mentioned as a potential option amid United’s defensive injury woes but has a knee issue of his own. Hasn’t played under Ten Hag yet and that almost certainly won’t change.
Doubtful
Anthony Martial looked to have returned at just the right time for Man Utd but is yet to complete 90 minutes of one match this season and was forced off with a problem against Sevilla.
A doubt alongside the French forward is Scott McTominay, who had discovered some fine goalscoring form for club and country. He’s missed the last three games, though the Scotland international is expected back soon.
Harry Maguire
Man Utd will be short of another option in central defence due to suspension. Alongside the injuries to Martinez and Varane, England defender Maguire picked up bookings in the previous FA Cup victories over West Ham and Fulham, both of which ended 3-1.
Read the latest Man Utd news here
The crushing amount of injuries in defence have caused major problems for Man Utd, who have looked ropy at the back without some key centre-backs.
Maguire would have been in line to plug one of those gaps, but his suspension means Ten Hag will have to shuffle his pack even more furiously to find a solution against Brighton. Luke Shaw could move infield to partner Victor Lindelof in central defence, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot operating out wide.
There’s a more familiar feel in midfield and attack, with Christian Eriksen expected to start alongside Casemiro with Bruno Fernandes slightly further forward. Marcus Rashford may also make his first start in two weeks, having appeared as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat at Sevilla.
Man Utd predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
