Man United’s treatment room has been one of the busiest in the Premier League this season, but their injury problems appear to have continued noticeably this week, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans added to their absentee list.
It has been an injury-ravaged season for Erik ten Hag’s side and, amid a lack of defenders, the Dutchman has reportedly called up an 18-year-old centre-back to train with the first team ahead of their clash against Bournemouth. .
On Thursday, the club announced that Varane and Evans would not be available for this weekend’s match as they both suffered muscle injuries. The France international will now be sidelined for “a few weeks” after suffering the injury during the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. Evans’ problem is expected to keep him out for a “shorter term.”
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelof have also recently been ruled out with injuries, meaning Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala are the only two central defenders available for Saturday.
In his absences, Manchester Evening News reports that the Red Devils have called up academy star Jack Kingdon to train with the first team on Friday.
Erik ten Hag’s team has been devastated by injuries so far in the 2023-24 campaign
Raphael Varane (left) and Jonny Evans (right) have been ruled out of Saturday’s game.
The 18-year-old joined United from Morecombe in 2020 for a “six-figure fee” and has risen through the academy ranks at Carrington to become one of their most promising young stars.
Kingdon, who has represented Scotland at youth level, has been enjoying an excellent season with United’s U18 Premier League side, scoring two goals in 14 appearances to help the young Red Devils rise to the top of the league standings.
He has also been used in United’s 2023-24 UEFA Youth League campaign, making four appearances in United’s matches against Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.
The 6ft 1in centre-back has previously played as a forward and midfielder at his age level, but impressed more as a defender. He can also play as a right back.
It means there is a chance Kingdon could follow in the footsteps of fellow United star Kobbie Mainoo and make his first appearance for the senior team this weekend, if he is named in the first team to play against Bournemouth.
Mainoo has enjoyed a sensational season with the Red Devils, notably scoring his first goal at Old Trafford for the first team against rivals Liverpool last weekend.
Concerns have grown in recent weeks over whether United will qualify for the Champions League this season, having been knocked out of the Champions League earlier this season.
Academy star Jack Kingdon has been called up to train with the first team on Friday.
The 18-year-old has helped Man United’s U18 team rise to the top of the U18 Premier League.
Kingdon has also made four appearances for United in their UEFA Youth League campaign.
But there’s more bad news for United fans, with Ten Hag raising concerns about the fitness of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay during a press conference on Friday.
‘Rash [Rashford] “He trained yesterday, so how he recovered today, we have another training today and then we will make a decision on it,” the coach said, after the striker was seen limping off the field during Sunday’s match.
Asked if McTominay would be fit to return after missing the Liverpool clash with a knee injury, Ten Hag said: “Scott, I don’t think so.
“We have training so we have one day, he will push, he really wants to be part of it tomorrow, so it is very questionable.”
While Untied are still in the FA Cup, they have largely failed to surpass their achievements in the 2022-23 campaign, where they finished third in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup.
Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala are the only two centre-backs available for Saturday
Ten Hag also raised the alarm over Marcus Rashford’s fitness on Friday afternoon.
But Ten Hag has attributed much of his struggles to how busy his treatment room has been this season.
“No team can deal with so many injuries,” he said. The Guardian.
“I think we played at the highest level considering the availability of the players. We missed many key players throughout the season.
“The performances we have seen when the players were available in January and February were very good.”