Manchester United got back to winning ways on Saturday with a victory over Brentford but another injury threatened to derail their season even further.
Injuries have been an issue for United of late and Matthijs de Ligt had to leave the field three times on Saturday for the medical team to patch up a head injury. The final time he left the field Brentford took advantage of United being down to 10 men and scored the opening goal of the game.
United came back to win the contest 2-1. Here’s a look at the latest injury news and possible return dates ahead of this week’s trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Kobbie Mainoo
Injury: Muscle injury
Mainoo was taken off in the latter stages of the draw with Villa, resulting in him being forced to pull out of the England squad the following day. He played no part in the clash with Porto.
Ten Hag confirmed on Friday that he will be out for a “couple of weeks”.
Possible return date: November.
Harry Maguire
Injury: Muscle injury
Maguire was forced off at the end of the first half against Villa. “Kobbie and Harry are out for a couple of weeks,” Ten Hag confirmed on Friday.
Possible return date: November.
Mason Mount
Injury: Muscle injury
Mount, who made just 20 appearances last season because of a collection of injuries, has missed each of United’s last two matches after being forced off with a head injury against Tottenham Hotspur. It was later revealed that he had also picked up a knock.
Possible return date: Unknown.
Luke Shaw
Injury: Calf
It was announced three days before United’s season opener against Fulham that Shaw would miss the start of the season with a calf problem. United originally hoped he would be back last month.
However, the England international is still yet to make his first appearance of the season. Ten Hag hopes he could return in the not-too-distant future.
Issuing an update on Shaw, Ten Hag said: “We can’t force their (Malacia and Shaw) return and we have to do it very carefully because we don’t want them to return and quickly drop out. We do it very careful, we hope to do it as soon as possible because this team needs a left full back, that is for sure.”
Possible return date: November.
Tyrell Malacia
Injury: Knee
Malacia last played for United on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season because of a knee injury. Malacia has been back on the grass at Carrington and has participated in training sessions, confirming that his recovery is going in the right direction.
Possible return date: November.
Leny Yoro
Injury: Fractured metatarsal
Summer signing Yoro fractured his metatarsal in the opening game of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States in July. He required surgery and it was predicted that he would be out for around three months.
He is making good progress with his recovery, with the Manchester Evening News revealing last month that he was already walking without crutches and working hard in the gym at Carrington.
He issued a fresh update on his recovery recently, sharing a video on social media of himself on a treadmill, writing: “On the way back.”
Possible return date: November.
Matthijs de Ligt
Injury: Head
Matthijs de Ligt suffered a nasty head injury against Brentford and was forced to leave the field three times for the medical team to patch him up. The last time he left the field proved costly as the visitors scored with United down to 10 men.
De Ligt was allowed to carry on and Ten Hag said after the game: “He was okay, that’s what he told me. That’s what I asked him when he came off: ‘Is there a problem?’ No, he was 100 per cent there, not any time [was] there a doubt to take him off.”
Possible return date: Fenerbache (October 24).
Toby Collyer
Injury: Unknown.
Jack Fletcher was added to the United matchday squad for the first time on Saturday and Ten Hag confirmed before the game that he had taken the place of Toby Collyer. The Dutchman confirmed Collyer was injured but did not add any further detail.
Possible return date: Unknown.