Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has revealed that a total of six players will be unavailable for the Premier League match against Chelsea.
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Manchester United’s injury list continues to expand, with two more added to the list of players who will miss the midweek match. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has revealed that a total of six players will be unavailable for the Premier League match against Chelsea on Thursday night. Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw, Fred, and Edinson Cavani did not play in the 3-1 loss to Mikel Arteta’s squad at the weekend. Pogba, who suffered a calf injury early in the 4-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, will most certainly miss the rest of the season. Another midfielder, Fred will also miss the clash against the Blues. On April 9th, the Brazilian suffered a hip flexor injury during Manchester United’s 1-0 loss at Goodison Park.
One thing is certain – Shaw, who is out due to a minor knee operation, and Cavani (calf) will both be out for the crucial midweek showdown. They both are not expected to return to the Starting XI before May. Other than these four players, Rangnick has also added two more names – Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho – to the injury list. Skipper Maguire, who has some niggles with his knee, and Sancho, who is ill, will also miss the Thursday night battle.
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“Fred is unfortunately not yet available,” Ralf said at his pre-match press conference. “He tried to train yesterday but after training I had a long conversation with him and he just told me that he doesn’t feel fully fit, he’s not at 100 per cent, and with a player like Fred who’s always committed to give his very best, I don’t think it makes sense, with the muscular injury that he had, to play him too early, because that would mean we take the risk of a re-injury and this is something that I don’t want to do. So he won’t be available unfortunately tomorrow.
“And apart from that we have Harry Maguire who is not available. He has some issues with his knee, not a big thing – some niggle in his knee. He hasn’t been training, neither yesterday or today. Paul obviously, Fred, Edinson, Luke Shaw and Jadon – Jadon is ill, he has tonsillitis since yesterday, couldn’t train today and will also be not available tomorrow.”
Besides, right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s participation is also doubtful for the Chelsea match. Due to the numerous absentees from the first team, Rangnick said that he might give youth team players some chances in the remaining games. “Well, it’s possible,” he added.
“We have quite a few players missing tomorrow and one or two still with question marks so we will have to wait and see until tomorrow to see if, for example, Aaron Wan-Bissaka can play. I already played Hannibal at Liverpool so it’s possible [I’ll play youngsters] but we also have to be fair enough to those players. It has to be the right moment, they should have a chance to play well and perform well so it’s not just pushing them into a game. I think it should also be the right moment.”
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On the positive front though Rangnick is hoping to have Cavani back in training on Friday – a day after the Chelsea clash. “Well, he should be back in training on Friday, so the day after the Chelsea game, according to the team doctor, and then we will have to see,” Ralf said. “He has been out for quite some time now but according to our team doctor he should be back in training on Friday.”
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