Ralf Rangnick has confirmed Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has suffered a knee injury while on international duty.
Rangnick, who was United's interim manager last season, is now in charge of Austria and included Sabitzer in his squad for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Estonia. Sabitzer scored a brace in the 4-1 win against Azerbaijan in Linz on Friday night.
Yet the United star could miss Monday night's game against Estonia, which also takes place in Linz, due to his injury. The news is a blow for Rangnick's successor at Old Trafford Erik ten Hag, who is already without key midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
Rangnick hopes Sabitzer will be fit to face Estonia. Regardless of whether the midfielder plays on Monday night, Ten Hag will be hoping he returns to Old Trafford in one piece and is available for United's Premier League game at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
United signed Sabitzer, 29, on loan from Bayern Munich in January after Eriksen suffered a serious ankle injury in a cup game. The Denmark international, 31, is hoping to make his comeback in April, but he will not fit in time for the upcoming fixture at St James' Park.
Casemiro, 31, is not injured, but he is serving a four-game domestic ban after picking up his second red card of the season against Southampton earlier this month. The Brazilian has already sat out one of those games - the 3-1 FA Cup triumph against Fulham.
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United are also without long-term absentee Donny van de Beek, who has a knee injury. Sabitzer's knock means Ten Hag may have only Fred and Scott McTominay to choose from for the Newcastle clash. He will be hoping the Austrian makes a speedy recovery.
Rangnick revealed Sabitzer's injury during his pre-match press conference for the Estonia game. As quoted by United's website, Rangnick said, "In the end, it is a question of pain and pain tolerance for both Marcel and Gernot [Trauner, the Feyenoord defender].
"Of course, we hope that Marcel will do well, especially after that first game in Linz. At the moment, I'm optimistic that it can work but, at the end of the day, it's also a question of whether Marcel feels ready for it himself. At the moment, I am assuming he'll play.
"It made more sense to leave them out [of the session] again, just to give them one more day. But there are enough other candidates."
Rangnick sang Sabitzer's praises after Austria's victory against Azerbaijan and also appeared to complement Ten Hag for boosting the player's confidence. The Austria boss told Laola 1, "Sabi's performance was outstanding.
"You can't say it any other way. He is simply a player with a lot of quality. I think the change [move] did him good. He is literally flourishing, which is very, very good. He has a lot more confidence than when he was at Bayern Munich."
