Huge boost as Man Utd handed double injury boost ahead of Chelsea game
Manchester United’s defensive issues could be eased when they face Chelsea on Thursday night.
The Blues host Man United at Stamford Bridge in their next Premier League clash. Chelsea are looking to return to winning ways after the 2-2 draw with Burnley at the weekend.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are currently 12th in the league standings and are one point behind 11th-placed Bournemouth with two games in hand. Chelsea will still believe European qualification is achievable in the final weeks of the season, with West Ham five points ahead in seventh place having played three games more.
Man United have been struggling with injuries this season, with their latest setback coming in the form of a muscle injury to Victor Lindelof during their 1-1 draw with Brentford. Lisandro Martinez is also set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury in training.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are already out, but Man United will have a welcome boost for the game against Chelsea. Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are set to be available, as confirmed by manager Erik ten Hag, with the duo dealing with fitness issues in recent weeks.
“No more issues – we don’t need (anymore)!” Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday. “On the frontline and in midfield we are OK, we have options there.
“But in the backline we have a lack of options, but the good thing is back in training this afternoon is Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans. And Harry Maguire was already yesterday back in training.”
Ten Hag also opened up on the injury struggles that United have gone through over the season. Chelsea have also been dealing with injuries to key players across the campaign, and Ten Hag believes it’s a dilemma facing most teams in the Premier League.
“You can’t prevent,” said Ten Hag. “You see it’s not only us who’ve had this.
“The standards of the Premier League from an intensity perspective are so high, the overload in the schedule, also international football is so huge.
“We have all internationals in our squad and you see it’s not only us – Man City, Liverpool and Newcastle have the problems, so there are many other teams. In this moment, especially the defending department but in the midfield and frontline the players are available.”
Ten Hag went on to praise the importance of having Mason Mount back available. The former Chelsea midfielder left Stamford Bridge last summer to move to Old Trafford in a £60 million deal.
Mount has been struggling with injuries all season and spent four months on the sidelines with a calf injury before returning to action last month. Ten Hag emphasised the importance of caution being needed in the early stages of Mount’s return from injury.
“He’s [Mount] a fantastic football player but it’s important first that he is getting and keeping fit because he has had three injuries,” said Ten Hag.
“You see it now with Licha [Martinez], so another injury, so you want to avoid and we have to do this carefully.
“This is first objective, to keep him fit. Of course in the same we want to use him that he can benefit and contribute to the team like he did on Saturday when he had a big impact.”
