Manchester United are dealing with a number of injury concerns as another new Premier League campaign dawns.
Erik ten Hag’s side kick-off the new season at Old Trafford on Monday night against a Wolves team rocked by the exit of manager Julen Lopetegui just days before the serious business gets underway once more.
Hopes are high regarding a strong start to 2023/24 for United despite a mixed summer both in terms of results and in the transfer market, with Ten Hag able to secure three of his top targets but surely more required if they are to hope to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.
The Dutchman’s cause is certainly not helped by several injury issues that are bothering his squad ahead of Wolves’ trip to Manchester next week.
Here is your latest update of Manchester United injuries and potential return dates...
Rasmus Hojlund
United’s main absentee for the start of the new season is Rasmus Hojlund. Ten Hag’s No1 striker target was finally signed last week in a deal that could be worth up to £72million after protracted talks with Atalanta.
A lot is expected of the Danish international, 20, after a breakout season in Serie A last term and favourable early comparisons to Erling Haaland, but he will have to wait a little while to hit the ground running in English football.
It has emerged that a back issue was detected during Hojlund’s medical, with United insisting that the injury sustained during pre-season with Atalanta is minor and only expected to keep him out for a “few weeks”.
Hojlund was out performing individual drills at Carrington on Wednesday in a promising sign, but he will definitely miss the opener against Wolves and following trip to Tottenham on August 19.
Presumably he will also be too short of fitness for the clash with Nottingham Forest on August 26, with United then beginning September against Arsenal before the first international break of the season arrives. Could that high-profile clash with the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium be an ideal spot for Hojlund’s debut? We’ll wait and see.
Anthony Martial
Another United season starts with familiar injury problems for Anthony Martial. The Frenchman missed big chunks of last term with hip, hamstring, back and Achilles issues limiting him to just 11 Premier League starts in Ten Hag’s first year at the helm.
He missed the FA Cup final defeat by City in June with a hamstring tear, but did travel and train on United’s pre-season tour of the USA in July, albeit without making a single appearance in any friendly.
He did not play in either friendly preceding that trip either, against Leeds and Lyon, nor in the double-header against Lens and Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.
However, he continues to be spotted in training pictures and videos from Carrington, so could well be involved against Wolves in some capacity, particularly with Hojlund out, despite a complete lack of pre-season action.
Tyrell Malacia
Tyrell Malacia is another first-team United player not to have featured at all throughout pre-season.
The Dutch full-back did not go on the US tour due to an unspecified injury problem and did not play in any friendly before or after.
As with every other player on this list, a new update on Malacia should be forthcoming when Ten Hag addresses the media on Friday in his pre-Wolves press conference.
As it stands though, he seems unlikely to be ready for the start of the new season.
Kobbie Mainoo
Teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo impressed against Arsenal on United’s US tour before limping out of the defeat by Real Madrid.
The popular academy graduate was subsequently diagnosed with an ankle injury and ruled out for the “first part of the 2023/24 season”.
“I’ll be back stronger and in no time,” he said on Instagram. “Thanks for your messages of support.”
It remains to be seen exactly when Mainoo will be in a position to return as he bids to prove himself worthy of a first-team role under Ten Hag.
Amad Diallo
Like Mainoo, Amad Diallo has also been officially ruled out for the “first part of the season” after suffering a knee injury during the win over Arsenal in New Jersey.
Such an issue has denied the Ivorian international winger the chance to continue his development with another productive loan spell, having shone in the Championship with Sunderland last season.
The 21-year-old will instead now focus on his recovery and maybe making a couple of first-team appearances before January, when the possibility of another loan move is sure to be floated once more.
Dean Henderson
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson has been back in light training at Carrington after suffering a thigh tear in January during a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest that kept him sidelined for months and later needed surgery in May.
The player is expected to return to the City Ground on a permanent deal before the summer window closes, though reports suggest all parties are now waiting for his recovery to be fully completed before proceeding.
It would be a surprise to see Henderson make any United matchday squad before then, though fresh reports claim he could yet stay at Old Trafford due to an injury sustained by Tom Heaton - especially with Nathan Bishop sold and Matej Kovar also on his way out.
Tom Heaton
The experienced Heaton did look set to be the main back-up to new No1 Andre Onana, but suffered an unspecified injury on Thursday that United have confirmed will see him unavailable against Wolves and sidelined for the “first few weeks of the season”.
Such a setback looks likely to see the club accelerate their search for another new arrival in the goalkeeping department, with Bishop having joined Sunderland and Kovar being courted by Bayer Leverkusen.
