United begin their Champions League campaign with a difficult trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday and it&aposs been made even more difficult for Erik ten Hag as he is without 12 players. In fact, the travelling squad contains four goalkeepers but just five defenders.
Jadon Sancho and Antony are unavailable due to off-the-field issues and Donny van de Beek is ineligible as he hasn&apost been named in the European squad but otherwise United have nine players out with injury. Here is how they&aposre doing and when they will hopefully be back.
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Varane has been out of action since he was taken off at half-time in the narrow victory over Nottingham Forest with an unspecified injury. The Frenchman did return to training on Tuesday morning but isn&apost yet fit enough to return to action. Saturday&aposs match-up with Burnley could see him make his comeback.
Potential return date: September 23
What Ten Hag has said: “He had complaints, we didn&apost want to risk him, we have Harry Maguire, we have Victor Lindelof, who could replace him, so we don&apost take a risk. We have to wait.”
Midfielder Mount was also back training with his teammates but won&apost be making the journey to Germany either. The summer signing has missed the last three matches with a muscular injury but could return this weekend.
Potential return date: September 23
What Ten Hag has said: “Maybe, maybe one player [will return for the Bayern game], but I think Munich is a little bit too short. I go to Burnley and the week after, players will return.”
United&aposs exciting deadline day arrival Sofyan Amrabat has not yet made his debut and the wait goes on as he recovers from an unspecified injury. The Morrocan midfielder is training but only individually and it&aposs not yet clear when he will be fit.
Potential return date: N/A
What Ten Hag has said: “He came back unfortunately with injury, so he was not available [against Brighton], but on the short notice [soon], yes, I&aposm sure we will all get joy from them [new signings].”
One of United&aposs biggest blows so far this season was losing Shaw for a significant period. The left-back has sustained a muscle injury and isn&apost expected to play again until October at the earliest.
Potential return date: October/November
What Ten Hag has said: “We can&apost do that [put a definite timescale on returns]. It&aposs personal these days, they will be out for some period absent. I think Luke [Shaw] will be longer and Mason [Mount].”
United have been left desperately short on full-back options as Wan-Bissaka is now set for a spell on the sidelines. The right-back was a late introduction in Saturday&aposs defeat to Brighton but suffered a hamstring injury which has ruled him out for up to eight weeks.
Potential return date: November
The latest name on United&aposs injury list is Harry Maguire, who did train on Tuesday morning but isn&apost travelling to Germany due to an injury. It&aposs not yet clear how long he is set to be sidelined.
Potential return date: N/A
Just as it looked as though he was set to play a crucial role in the season, Mainoo suffered an untimely ankle injury in pre-season which ruled him out for a couple of months.
Potential return date: October
What Ten Hag has said: “At this moment, he&aposs not available, but I think he will also, not in one month, but in two months, he will be available. And so, for the winter [that] is coming up, he absolutely will have his games.”
United&aposs third injured full-back is Tyrell Malacia. The Dutchman didn&apost travel on the pre-season tour of the USA due to his knee ailment but it&aposs not clear how long he will be out of action after already being sidelined for two months.
Potential return date: N/A
In an injury that couldn&apost have been timed worse, Amad suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season which looks like will cost him the rest of 2023. Given United&aposs lack of right-wingers, the injury has robbed Amad of a great chance to impress Ten Hag.
