Manchester United will definitely be without Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw for Saturday's meeting with Fulham at Old Trafford.
Hojlund was added to the list of injured players on Friday and, although the Dane's spell on the sidelines will be shorter than Luke's, the news still comes as a blow given his stellar form in front of goal.
“It is a small injury, two to three weeks,
“ Erik ten Hag clarified during his press conference.
“That is what happens and the risk [when you are] playing at high intensity, training. As I say it is not a big injury, but he has to wait for one, two, three weeks.”
Shaw sustained a muscle injury during last weekend's victory at Luton and is expected to be absent for several months.
With Tyrell Malacia still on his way back from the issue that has kept him out for the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign so far, there is no natural left-back available for Ten Hag against the Cottagers.
However, Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat are options having filled in there at various points this season, while Diogo Dalot regularly featured on that flank during Shaw's previous absence.
There was no update on Malacia, Mason Mount or Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the trio yet to return to the training pitches.
Anthony Martial and Lisandro Martinez are still rehabilitating and Erik was asked about the impact of all the injuries on our season.
“Yeah of course that is an issue, but that is also the same at other clubs. We have to deal with this,”
he replied.
“I now have the feeling we can [better deal with it] than we did back in autumn. But still it is an issue when the depth of the squad have to prove it.”
FULHAM TEAM NEWS
Joao Palhinha serves the first of a two-match suspension for picking up 10 yellow cards in the league, while Raul Jimenez is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Marco Silva conducted his news conference on Thursday and said that, although Willian needs to undergo a fitness test, Armando Broja could feature after missing the 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa with a virus.
“We’re still assessing Willian,”
he said.
“All the other players, they are probably going to be available, even Willian, but we have to do a little bit more [assessment].
“Broja wasn’t well and wasn’t in a condition to be involved in the game [last Saturday] but he’s okay.”