Erik ten Hag says he is expecting Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane back at Manchester United soon while Harry Maguire returned to training on Friday.
The club captain missed the 2-0 League Cup win over Burnley due to illness with Martinez and Varane given an extra week’s rest after their World Cup final exploits. Ten Hag told a press conference on Friday that the former was “still celebrating in Buenos Aires” following Argentina’s Qatar triumph.
Frenchman Varane - who almost missed the tournament due to a knee injury - was helped off the pitch during extra time in the final after going down. The Manchester Evening News understands that his exit was nothing more sinister and he has no injury concern.
READ MORE: Martinez makes World Cup admission ahead of United return
Varane and Martinez are not expected to feature against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday with neither back at Carrington as of Friday. Speaking to club media, Ten Hag said: ''Returning from Rapha Varane and Licha Martinez, they are not there [back at United ] but we hope on their comeback [soon].''
Amid Maguire’s absence on Wednesday, Casemiro played at centre-back. The Brazilian, who like Maguire suffered World Cup quarter-final heartbreak, helped keep a clean sheet alongside Victor Lindelof on Wednesday. However, Ten Hag indicated that Maguire could return for Forest.
He added: ''We had some problems with illness like Harry Maguire, but he was back on the training pitch today so I’m happy with that.”
The United boss outlined that fellow World Cup returnees are “excited” to be back at the club ahead of the resumption of the Premier League season.
Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Antony and goalscoring duo Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford all featured against Burnley last week while Facundo Pellistri made the bench.
Ten Hag described their mood as “good”, adding: “The players from the World Cup are back, are integrated again and you feel they are excited.
''[They had] massive impressions there [in Qatar], but now they are back, and you feel their energy. They are looking forward to the restart [of the Premier League].''
There are no further updates on Diogo Dalot, who missed the win over Burnley due to “small complaints” after being forced off in Portugal’s World Cup quarter-final loss to Morocco.
Right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka earned his first competitive start under Ten Hag on Wednesday and grabbed the assist for Eriksen’s opener.
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