Why Malacia's missing the Forest match
Tyrell Malacia is the fourth Manchester United defender to have been ruled out of the Nottingham Forest game this Sunday afternoon, due to injury.
It had already been confirmed that centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane would be absent, with the first of those two World Cup-winning players being ruled out for the rest of the season. The latter, meanwhile, is expected to be out for a few weeks which puts his return date in early May.
Given his new-found versatility under Ten Hag's tutelage, left-back Luke Shaw had been touted as an option to replace Martinez but he was also unable to make the teamsheet.
The manager reported on Friday morning, with two training sessions still to go, that it was "possible" Shaw and midfielder Scott McTominay could face Forest but neither player was named as a starter or a sub at The City Ground.
Given his new-found versatility under Ten Hag's tutelage, left-back Luke Shaw had been touted as an option to replace Martinez but he was also unable to make the teamsheet.
The manager reported on Friday morning, with two training sessions still to go, that it was "possible" Shaw and midfielder Scott McTominay could face Forest but neither player was named as a starter or a sub at The City Ground.
Ten Hag: Forest is a test of our character Video
Ten Hag: Forest is a test of our character
The boss explains why Malacia is missing and what he expects from youngster Marc Jurado, who starts on the bench...
When asked why Malacia was missing, Ten Hag told MUTV in his pre-match interview: "He has a sore knee and already he was struggling in the week. Today it was too bad to start.''
The Dutch left-back played the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford on Thursday night, as the Reds were held 2-2 by Sevilla in the Europa League.
It remains to be seen whether he or Shaw will be able to fly out to Spain for the second leg; in the meantime, right-back Diogo Dalot starts on the left against Forest while both Brandon Williams and Academy defender Marc Jurado offer cover from the bench.
The Dutch left-back played the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford on Thursday night, as the Reds were held 2-2 by Sevilla in the Europa League.
It remains to be seen whether he or Shaw will be able to fly out to Spain for the second leg; in the meantime, right-back Diogo Dalot starts on the left against Forest while both Brandon Williams and Academy defender Marc Jurado offer cover from the bench.
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