Manchester United’s preseason preparations have taken a significant hit with a series of injuries to key players, raising concerns ahead of the new campaign.
New signing Leny Yoro has been ruled out for approximately three months due to a foot injury sustained during a friendly against Arsenal. The 18-year-old defender, who joined from Lille for £58.9m, has opted to stay with the team on tour, with further assessment to be carried out upon his return to the UK.
Adding to United’s woes, striker Rasmus Højlund is set to miss six weeks due to a hamstring injury. Initially thought to be minor, the injury was confirmed after Højlund scored against Arsenal but went off in the 16th minute. He will miss the start of the season.
The injury list grew further during United’s 3-2 victory over Real Betis, with both Marcus Rashford and Antony being substituted due to apparent injuries. Rashford appeared to have an issue with his right ankle, while Antony was withdrawn with a hand problem. Both substitutions were described as “precautionary” by Tom Heaton.
These injuries pose a significant challenge to Erik ten Hag’s plans for the new campaign, highlighting the need to strengthen United’s defense.
The club faces a race against time to get players fit for upcoming fixtures, including the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 10, the Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16, and a high-profile clash with Liverpool on September 1, where Højlund might still be unavailable.
