Bruno Fernandes missed the humbling defeat at Crystal Palace last time out due to a knock and leads a long list of players battling to be fit for Sunday’s visit of the Premier League leaders to Old Trafford.
Ten Hag described the club captain as “fighting” to feature in the trip to Selhurst Park, a battle which he would ultimately lose, but the manager’s tone implied a realistic chance of him returning to face Arsenal.
Likewise, Scott McTominay was set to make his comeback to training before the Palace game after a short-term issue and his confirmed fitness would put him in line for a swift return to the starting line-up.
United are desperate for reinforcements with only one senior outfield player, Sofyan Amrabat, available to make the bench in the loss to Palace. However, neither the Moroccan nor Amad Diallo appear to be trusted by the manager to start games at this point despite their teammates’ lack of form.
Ten Hag will update fans during his pre-game press conference on Friday but there has been little to suggest that any more of United’s absentees will be fit.
Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Anthony Martial are all thought to be back in training but their long-term absences will require patience before a return to the XI. Harry Maguire has recently been ruled out with a leg muscle complaint while Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Willy Kambwala are all yet to feature in team workouts.
Their issues have opened up a gaping hole in defence being filled by Jonny Evans and Casemiro, who are expected to struggle on against Arsenal unless United receive a surprise positive update or Amrabat is drafted in.
Marcus Rashford’s recovery from an injury picked up in the FA Cup semi-final was described in dour terms by Ten Hag recently, as questions grow over whether he will be fit to play again this season.
Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; Dalot, Casemiro, Evans, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Doubts: Fernandes, McTominay
Injuries: Malacia, Maguire, Shaw, Martinez, Martial, Rashford, Varane, Lindelof, Kambwala
Time and date: 4.30pm BST, Sunday May 12, 2024
Venue: Old Trafford
TV channel: Sky Sports
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