Ten Hag offers update on four Reds

The boss was asked about the pair during his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday, ahead of Sunday's Premier League away trip to Nottingham Forest (16:30 BST).

 

The defensive duo were both forced off with problems during Thursday's dramatic 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, putting their involvement in the Forest match in doubt.

 

However, Ten Hag offered hope that Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw – both absent from the squad that faced the Andalusians – could return to action at The City Ground.

On Martinez and Varane, Ten Hag told reporters: 

 

“No, sorry, [I do not know any more information]. It is not even 24 hours [since the Sevilla match] so I don't have complete diagnosis. So I can't tell [the severity of the injuries] in this moment.

 

“When we have news we will give it straight to you. But let's do the medical, do their assessments and full diagnose, complete diagnose, and then we will give you the news. But I think it doesn't change in this moment.”

Harry Maguire came on for Varane at half-time in the Sevilla match, while Victor Lindelof was an unused substitute. But another option to replace Martinez or Varane might be Shaw, who Ten Hag believes could return for the game in Nottingham.

 

“Are any players available that were missing? For Sunday, yeah, [they] could be. But we have to see,” explained Erik.

 

“We have now two sessions to go of training, so I don't know by now. But it can be that Scott and Luke return in the squad, but [we are] not sure.”

In light of the fresh injuries, the boss was understandably keen to remain positive, highlighting the impressive performances of several other squad players who came in to great effect against the Spaniards.

 

“We have depth in the squad. We have to use the squad – that's also what we did yesterday. In the meantime, you have to win games so also you have to have a tactical approach to win games, but I think we have good players and when we have problems – injuries and suspensions – we have depth in the squad.

 

“[Against Sevilla] Aaron Wan-Bissaka played very well, Antony played very well, Marcel Sabitzer played really well. Bruno played very good and Anthony Martial as well.”

 

Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate left the field during Forest's 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, with what appeared to be hamstring problems. Both are doubts for Sunday's match.

 

Renan Lodi and Gustavo Scarpa are two more players that have recently joined Forest's injury list, while Emmanuel Dennis made the bench at Villa, despite suffering a knock against Leeds United on Tuesday 4 April.

 

Scott McKenna and former United forward Jesse Lingard were unused substitutes at Villa Park, after returning from spells out, but both could be involved this weekend.

 

Manager Steve Cooper said: “Since Leeds, Scarpa has got injured and Lodi has got injured. Renan [Lodi] had a kick in training which is going to keep him out for a little bit. [Emmanuel] Dennis just about made the bench but was a risk. And then we picked up two injuries in the game as well. On that front, not ideal again. It’s definitely not gone our way with injuries. We’ve done everything to look at why that is.”