Ruud van Nistelrooy will take interim charge of Manchester United for the first time when they host Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round at Old Trafford this evening.
Van Nistelrooy was placed in caretaker charge on Monday after the United hierarchy made the decision to sack Erik ten Hag. The club is trying to appoint Ruben Amorim as the Dutchman’s permanent successor.
As far as the visit of the Foxes is concerned, Van Nistelrooy is poised to select his matchday squad from the same pool of players that were available for Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium.
None of those who currently feature on the injury list are expected to return, meaning Van Nistelrooy will not be blessed with a catalogue of options.
With that said, here is all the very latest on the injury front ahead of tonight’s game at Old Trafford…
Noussair Mazraoui
Injury: Knee
Mazraoui was withdrawn in the closing stages of the defeat to West Ham after a coming together with Hammers match-winner Jarrod Bowen. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed, meaning it remains to be seen if he will make the squad tonight or not.
Potential return date: Unknown.
Leny Yoro
Injury: Fractured metatarsal
United issued an update on Yoro last week, confirming he had started training outside on the grass. He has been sidelined since fracturing his metatarsal in the opening game of United’s pre-season tour of the United States in July.
United anticipated he would be sidelined for around three months after undergoing surgery at the start of August. He was walking without crutches as soon as early-September and has been working hard in the gym at Carrington. He will not be rushed and his competitive debut for the club is ‘not imminent’.
Possible return date: November.
Harry Maguire
Injury: Foot
Maguire has been absent since being forced off against Aston Villa prior to the international break. He limped off the field, requiring support from members of the United medical team, and was replaced by Matthijs de Ligt just before half-time.
Maguire posted on social media that he would be out for ‘a few weeks’, something former United boss Ten Hag confirmed a few days later.
Possible return date: November.
Luke Shaw
Injury: Calf
There is no light at the end of Shaw’s injury tunnel, it seems. After originally being tipped to return after the first international break of the season in September and then after the second earlier this month, his absence is still ongoing.
Speaking after the defeat to West Ham, Ten Hag confirmed Shaw had suffered a setback and that his recovery is not going in the direction United would have hoped for.
He said: “The process is not going as we expected, that’s the truth. The setback, if you want to call it like this, we want also to do it very careful. When he is now dropping again, we want to be very careful.
“We know his past, we have to do this right, because we want him to be available, because he will have a big impact on our performances and also on our levels. We can’t have him playing for some games and then drop out again. So, we will do it very carefully.”
Possible return date: Unknown.
Tyrell Malacia
Injury: Knee
Malacia, who joined United in July 2022, has been training with the first-team in recent weeks, offering encouragement that his return might not be all that far away. He last played for United on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
In August, Ten Hag said the defender was moving in the right direction, suggesting he could be back at some point in October: “He is not that far [off], but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games. I think it would be possible [to be available again] in two months.”
However, United’s final game of October is, of course, this evening, and he is not expected to be involved.
Possible return date: Unknown.
Kobbie Mainoo
Injury: Muscle
Mainoo suffered a muscle injury in the closing stages of United’s 0-0 draw with Villa and has missed each of the last three matches. Ten Hag, speaking at his pre-Brentford press conference almost two weeks ago, said he expected the academy graduate to be unavailable for ‘a couple of weeks’, meaning he could be back available as soon as this weekend for the visit of Chelsea.
More information could be shared on his recovery ahead of the weekend.
Possible return date: November 3 (Chelsea H).
Mason Mount
Injury: Knock
Mount, who played just 20 times for United last season because of various injury issues, has missed the last five matches after being forced off with a head injury that required stitches against Tottenham Hotspur on September 29.
Ten Hag, speaking ahead of last week’s 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce, said: “I think a bit longer [to wait for Mount], that’s what we expected. I think he will be back soon.”
Possible return date: Unknown.
Toby Collyer
Injury: Unknown
Explaining why Jack Fletcher had been included in the squad for the win over Brentford earlier this month, Ten Hag revealed Collyer was another midfielder who had been added to the injury list. However, he stopped short of offering any detail on the nature or extent of his injury.
Possible return date: Unknown.
Antony
Injury: Sprained ankle
Antony was forced off on a stretcher in the closing stages of United’s stalemate with Fenerbahce, just 16 minutes after being introduced from the bench. He left the stadium requiring crutches, sporting a protective boot on his left leg.
Ten Hag, speaking post-match, said it was too early to reveal a diagnosis. However, it has since been confirmed he had suffered an ankle sprain.
Possible return date: Unknown.