Manchester United are likely to be without a quartet of senior stars for their clash with Chelsea on Thursday.
United’s official club website gave an update on four players that missed Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal.
Paul Pogba, Fred, Edison Cavani and Luke Shaw did not travel to the Emirates last weekend, watching on from home as their teammates lost 3-1.
It appears Ralf Rangnick will be unable to call upon any of the absentees again for the mid-week match-up against Chelsea.
Manchester United’s walking wounded
Pogba had to be removed early away to Liverpool seven days ago with a calf problem.
The Frenchman may have played his final game for the Red Devils, as he nears the end of his contract.
Fred meanwhile is still in a ‘frantic race’ to be fit in time to face the Blues, having sustained a hip flexor injury during United’s loss to Everton at the beginning of the month.
Luke Shaw continues to recover from a knee operation.
Cavani hasn’t played at all since the middle of March after damaging himself whilst away on international duty.
This leaves Rangnick without many different options to throw at Chelsea.
He will most likely have to select almost the same XI that failed rather miserably at Arsenal.
Harry Maguire began on the bench that afternoon, so should return to the starting line-up.
Marcus Rashford, Aaron Wan-Bissakka and Jesse Lingard were also substitutes and might be recalled.
But beyond them, Juan Mata, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, there isn’t much to rejoice about if you’re a United fan.
Chelsea have their own concerns
However, Chelsea can’t get ahead of themselves too quickly.
They are set to be without several significant figures as well for the trip to Old Trafford.
Antonio Rudiger, Mateo Kovacic and Reece James witnessed the 1-0 triumph over West Ham United on Sunday from their homes or the Stamford Bridge stands.
Andreas Christensen had to pull out of the fixture at the last minute because of illness.
Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi remain long-term absentees.
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