Manchester United have been boosted by the news that Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are back in training, easing the Red Devils’ defensive selection crisis ahead of Thursday’s trip to Chelsea.
United have been hampered by injuries in recent weeks, and on Tuesday, it was revealed that both Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof will miss around a month due to muscle issues.
Martinez has suffered a calf strain, having only returned from a knee problem as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, which represented his 11th appearance of an injury-hit season.
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The Argentine replaced Lindelof after the Sweden international sustained a hamstring injury, while Varane was also substituted as a precautionary measure at the Gtech Community Stadium.
With Evans also managing a minor injury, United were facing up to the prospect of Harry Maguire – who himself limped out of England’s defeat to Brazil during the international break – being their only senior centre-back available for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
However, at Wednesday’s press conference Ten Hag revealed Varane and Evans were due to train that afternoon and should be in contention to face the Blues.
ℹ️ The boss provided a positive update on @RAPHAELVARANE, @HARRYMAGUIRE93 and Jonny Evans ahead of Thursday night.#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) APRIL 3, 2024
“We have no more issues. We don’t need them! In the frontline and midfield we are okay, we have options there,” Ten Hag said.
“In the backline we have a lack of options, but the good thing is this afternoon Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are back in training.
“Harry Maguire was already back in training yesterday.”
The likes of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are long-term absentees for a United side which has been hamstrung by a series of muscle injuries this campaign.
Ten Hag believes the club may have uncovered the cause of the problem via an internal investigation, though he is not yet willing to share it.
“We have an idea but I think we will work on that internally, we will deal with it,” the Dutchman said.
United are not the only Premier League team battling a lengthy injury list, with the likes of Newcastle United, Liverpool and Wolves having been without several key players for recent fixtures.
Dates for your diary 📅
🔴 #MUFC
⚪ #MUWOMEN
⚫ #MUACADEMY PIC.TWITTER.COM/BALVJG6DG1— Manchester United (@ManUtd) APRIL 3, 2024
Asked if there were ways of mitigating injury risks, Ten Hag said: “You can’t prevent them, it’s not only us who’ve had this.
“The standards of the Premier League, from an intensity perspective, are so high, the overload of the schedule, international football is also huge, we have internationals in our squad.
“Liverpool and Newcastle have problems, so do many other teams. At this moment, we are especially down in the defensive department but in midfield and the frontline, players are available.”
