Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is optimistic that defender Raphael Varane will be in contention for the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3.
The Frenchman has missed each of United's last three matches after being forced off through injury at half-time during the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla at Old Trafford on April 13. The club announced the following evening that he would be sidelined for "a few weeks".
United, of course, also lost Lisandro Martinez to a season-ending injury against the Spanish outfit, meaning Ten Hag is currently light on options at centre-back. Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw started alongside each other in the heart of the defence against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, as the Reds reached their first FA Cup final since 2018 with a 7-6 penalty shootout triumph.
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Harry Maguire missed out through suspension, meaning Shaw was forced to move inside and partner Lindelof, who dispatched the winning penalty. However, by the time United next visit Wembley on the first Saturday in June to face City in the very first all-Manchester FA Cup final, Varane is poised to be available for selection.
Asked if the former Real Madrid star will be fit for their season finale, Ten Hag, speaking to talkSPORT, said: "I think so, yes. Varane, for the cup final, he can return."
Varane, who joined United almost two years ago, has been a standout figure in the club's revival under Ten Hag this season, racking up 30 appearances in all competitions. He has formed a blossoming partnership with Martinez, meaning it is incredibly unfortunate that the Reds have lost their first-choice centre-backs at the same juncture.
Although Ten Hag has confirmed that he expects to have the defender available for the clash with City, it remains to be seen if he will feature in the end-of-season run-in in the Premier League before then. United have eight league games remaining, starting with Thursday night's trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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