Man United injury list: Players out, potential return dates, predicted lineup for next game vs. Burnley originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Manchester United hope to welcome back some senior players just as they bid farewell to the head coach.
Ruben Amorim was sacked on January 5, the day after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United after which the Portuguese went public with his apparent frustrations at the way things were being done at the club.
United’s form has remained inconsistent this season, and they have looked particularly short-handed in the past month as a result of injuries and stars heading off for the Africa Cup of Nations. However, as Darren Fletcher prepares to take charge of the team for the first time on an interim basis, there may be one or two key players returning.
Here is how their injury list looks, when they can expect players to be back, and what their predicted lineup looks like for their next game.
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Man United injury list
Below is the latest injury picture for Man United, and estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Mason Mount
- Injury: Undisclosed
- Expected return date: January 7 (vs. Burnley)
Mount was substituted at halftime of the Boxing Day win over Newcastle United. Amorim said the midfielder “felt something” and was taken off as a precaution, even though Mount himself wanted to continue. He missed the Wolves and Leeds draws, but Amorim said there was a chance he could be involved at Burnley.
Bruno Fernandes
- Injury: Thigh
- Expected return date: January 7 (vs. Burnley)
Fernandes looked to have hurt his hamstring in the 2-1 loss at Villa on and went off at halftime. Prior to the Newcastle game, Amorim said the injury to his captain did not appear serious, but he predicted he would be out for longer than Kobbie Mainoo. Like Mount, he could return at Burnley.
Kobbie Mainoo
- Injury: Calf
- Expected return date: January 11 (vs. Brighton)
Mainoo sustained a calf injury prior to the loss against Aston Villa on December 21. Amorim said he was unsure how serious it was, but a few days later, he confirmed that Mainoo should return a little sooner than first feared. However, there is still no clear indication when he will be fully fit.
Matthijs de Ligt
- Injury: Lower back
- Expected return date: January 7 (vs. Burnley)
Amorim said De Ligt had been suffering back pain following the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on November 30 and has since been managing the centre-back carefully. After seven games out, he has a chance of being available for Fletcher’s opening game.
Harry Maguire
- Injury: Thigh
- Expected return date: Early January
Maguire’s thigh injury sustained against Spurs in November was not expected to keep him out for too long, but he has missed all of their league games since. It is hoped he could be back within the next two weeks.
Unavailable: Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo
Amad, Mazraoui and Mbeumo are away at the Africa Cup of Nations and will not return until at least early January.
Man United predicted lineup vs. Burnley
Here is the projected starting lineup when Man United face Burnley on January 7.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Lammens (GK)
Dalot, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw
Ugarte, Casemiro
Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha
Sesko
Man United fixture schedule: Next five games
After the Burnley game, United have an FA Cup third-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Then comes the Manchester derby, followed by a visit to league leaders Arsenal.
- Burnley vs. Man United | Premier League | Wednesday, January 7
- Man United vs. Brighton | FA Cup (3rd round) | Sunday, January 11
- Man United vs. Man City | Premier League | Saturday, January 17
- Arsenal vs. Man United | Premier League | Sunday, January 25
- Man United vs. Fulham | Premier League | Sunday, February 1
