Ten Hag reveals team news for Saints clash

Thursday 12 September 2024 16:30

Erik ten Hag has provided an update on his Manchester United squad, ahead of Saturday's return to Premier League action at Southampton.

The Reds kick domestic football off again, with a 12:30 BST start at St Mary's on the horizon, against Russell Martin's Saints.

The early assignment comes on the back of an international break that has included several United men performing on different continents in midweek, and the manager will be assessing his options for the trip south.

New boy Manuel Ugarte will be available, despite only coming back from South America today (Thursday), while Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund miss out again.

Part one: Press conference v Saints Video

Part one: Press conference v Saints

Press conference part one | Erik was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo, the break and Saturday's match v Southampton...

"Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw, they are progressing very well, but are not ready for this game," Ten Hag said at his press conference. "Manuel Ugarte, I think we all have seen he played for Uruguay. He returned this afternoon, he was the only player who returned today.

"All the other players returned yesterday, so he is available for this game."

Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro and Mason Mount are currently on the sidelines but Bruno Fernandes said after scoring in Portugal's UEFA Nations League win over Scotland that a knock he sustained was only a minor one.

SOUTHAMPTON'S TEAM NEWS

The home side will be without keeper Gavin Bazunu and forward Kamaldeen Sulemana but Ben Brereton Diaz is available, despite an early substitution while on international duty with Chile.

Scotland striker Ross Stewart is closing on a return, after a lengthy absence due to injury, and could join the matchday squad, along with new arrivals Maxwel Cornet and Ryan Fraser.

"Maxwel is in the squad," confirmed manager Martin at his press conference to preview the encounter. "Everyone is pretty much fit now, apart from Kamaldeen. We have a big squad and it's going to be a lot of selection dilemmas to get into the squad, let alone the starting XI.

"It's not an injury [for Brereton Diaz], so I guess the coach has his own reasons but it's not my job to ring the Chile coach and find out why Ben comes off. We have a lot of guys who went away and had a good time. Thankfully, they've all come back injury free. I think that's all you can ever ask for, as a manager, after an international break."

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