Manchester United will be sweating over the fitness of two defenders for the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The Red Devils visit the City Ground on Sunday afternoon, three days after the first leg of their Europa League quarter final against Sevilla. Erik Ten Hag’s side took on the Spanish team on Thursday night.
A first half brace from Marcel Sabitzer made it seem like it would be an easy night for Manchester United. But a late fight-back from Sevilla saw them come back to earn a 2-2 draw thanks to own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire.
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There was more bad news for United during the game when both Raphael Varane and Lautaro Martinez were forced off with injuries. The two have been United’s first choice centre-back pairing recently, but now both could be major doubts for the clash against Forest with Martinez carried off the pitch.
If either or both are injured, then it’s likely to see former Leicester City centre-back and club captain Maguire come in as a replacement at centre-back. The England man has lost his starting place at Old Trafford this season after a number of disappointing performances at club level.
Varane was replaced by Maguire at half time against Sevilla. The centre-back may have been considered unlucky to concede the late own goal as an off-target header deflected off him and past David De Gea.
That goal came just a few minutes after United were forced to play with 10-men. Martinez was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury after the Red Devils had used all of their substitutions in the game.
United are already sweating on the fitness of left-back Luke Shaw after he missed the last two games, meaning they could be without three of their first choice back four at the City Ground.
Forest go into the game knowing that any points would make it likely for them to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone at the weekend. Having already lost Marcus Rashford to injury, Manchester United could now be sweating on two more key players for the trip to the City Ground.
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