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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Smith

Varane, Maguire, Martial - Manchester United injury latest ahead of Sheriff Tiraspol fixture

Manchester United will be looking to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Europa League when they face Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford in their penultimate group game on Thursday evening.

The Reds, who won the reverse fixture 2-0 in Moldova last month, courtesy of goals from Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, will qualify for the next phase of the competition with just a point. However, Erik ten Hag's side will be determined to scoop all three points, such is their determination to try and win the group and avoid a two-legged play-off round in February.

United are overwhelming favourites to scoop maximum points against the Moldovan minnows and will head into the clash with form in their sails. They are unbeaten in their last six matches and have won each of their last three in the Europa League.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo to make United return vs Sheriff

However, they will have to make do without defender Raphael Varane. He went off with a hamstring injury during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and faces a spell on the sidelines.

With that said, here is the lowdown on all the very latest United injury news ahead of their latest outing.

Raphael Varane

The centre-back will miss each of United's next six matches because of a hamstring problem, Ten Hag confirmed during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday lunchtime. It means that he will not play again this side of the World Cup, though there is optimism that he will be fit enough to represent his native France in Qatar.

Issuing an update on Varane, who was fighting back the tears after being forced off at the weekend, Ten Hag said: "Rapha Varane isn't in the squad, so he will be out, certainly until the World Cup, so will not play in this block for Man United. I think so (he will be fit for the World Cup), but the prognosis, we have to wait and see how it develops, how his rehab develops."

His absence is going to be a huge blow for United, such is his level of importance. He has been outstanding so far this season, forming a promising partnership with Lisandro Martinez in the heart of the defence.

Anthony Martial

Fellow Frenchman Martial has also been ruled out of the clash with Sheriff. He is still struggling with a back problem and Ten Hag has not put a timescale on when he could be back available.

Anthony Martial's campaign has been dictated by injury woes. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.)

The forward, who has shown plenty of promise when he has been fit this season, has suffered a series of injury problems so far this term, so much so that he has missed 12 weeks worth of action. He has previously been sidelined by a hamstring and an Achilles injury so far this term.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Forgotten right-back Wan-Bissaka is back in contention for the visit of Sheriff, but is unlikely to dislodge Diogo Dalot in the starting line-up. The former Crystal Palace man has played just once so far this season and that was via the bench.

He has been sidelined since mid-September with an unspecified injury but returned to training earlier this week. A decision on whether he could make the squad is yet to be made.

Harry Maguire

Maguire, too, is also back in contention for United's penultimate Group E fixture, giving Ten Hag a timely boost as far as his defensive options are concerned. The England defender has not been included in the matchday squad since the previous meeting with Sheriff because of a hamstring injury.

With Varane now facing a spell on the sidelines, Maguire is set to battle it out with Victor Lindelof to partner Martinez.

Ten Hag, addressing Maguire's current situation, said: "He (Maguire) always has an important role, he was injured, happy in his own way back and now he has to get back into games.

"I understand the interest (in Maguire) but we especially look at Man United, we have to get the right results and performances, that's the main objective I have to look at. It's always about performance, about presentation and I think, regarding his qualities, when he's acting like that, no problem, great player and great capabilities to do a job for us."

Donny van de Beek

Ten Hag has also confirmed that Van de Beek has trained in the build-up to the clash with Sheriff and could be involved. He has been sidelined for almost two months with a muscular problem.

Ten Hag said: "They are in training, Harry, Donny, Aaron, in team training in preparation for tomorrow's game. After the training, together with medical, I will take the decision."

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