Manchester United endured a difficult night on Thursday as they threw away a two-goal lead in a disappointing Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla.
United led 2-0 going into the closing stages at Old Trafford thanks to Marcel Sabitzer’s first-half goals, but own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire saw Sevilla take a 2-2 draw back to Spain for next week’s second leg. Things were compounded further by injuries, which left United with 10 men after Erik ten Hag had used all five substitutes.
Lisandro Martinez was carried off the pitch by his Argentina team-mates Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna after going down clutching his leg when no opponent was nearby. Meanwhile, Raphael Varane also had to be taken off at half-time, meaning United lost both first-choice centre-backs.
Bruno Fernandes was also replaced by Christian Eriksen after picking up what could be a costly yellow card. With United facing a crucial second leg against Sevilla next week, as well as Premier League fixtures and an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon, Mirror Football takes a look at their growing injury list.
Lisandro Martinez
The most concerning injury at present. Martinez looked in a great deal of pain when he went down in the closing stages of the match. He looked emotional as he was carried off by Sevilla’s Argentine players and was placed on a stretcher.
United need to assess the extent of the problem, but Ten Hag was worried. "There was no opponent involved so it doesn't look that great but we have to wait,” he told MUTV. “The medical staff have to do their job, to give the right diagnosis."
He added to reporters: “I cannot tell what it is, but it is not an Achilles. I have spoken with him and he is okay and he is calm. I think [it is] an injury [that means] he will not play on Sunday. I cannot say what the diagnosis [is]. I prefer to wait and to know what it is."
Raphael Varane
Varane was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Maguire. This substitution appears to have been more precautionary than anything.
The Frenchman missed the 1-0 win over Real Betis and 3-1 FA Cup victory over Fulham last month with a muscle injury and Ten Hag confirmed post-match that he’d suffered a recurrence of the problem.
He told reporters: "That injury, he complained [about it] over the last couple of weeks and we have to see how it is now."
Bruno Fernandes
Unlike his team-mates, Fernandes is not injured. But he will miss the second leg against Sevilla on Thursday after picking up a harsh yellow card for handball in the first leg which triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
Fernandes has been a near ever-present for United this season and his absence will be a blow for the match. Eriksen replaced him off the bench at Old Trafford and is likely to start in Seville.
Scott McTominay
The Scotland international was not involved in the squad for the Sevilla match after picking up a minor knock this week. He did not train with his team-mates at Carrington on Wednesday, but the Manchester Evening News reported his problem was not thought to be serious.
Ten Hag will likely give a further update on McTominay’s availability for Sunday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford was substituted in the closing stages of United’s 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday with a groin problem. The club confirmed on Wednesday that he will be absent for “a few games” after scans revealed the full extent of the injury.
He missed the Sevilla match and will almost certainly be absent against Forest this weekend. But Ten Hag dropped a hint that he could be fit for the second leg against Sevilla on Thursday night. "There is a chance, but I cannot confirm it in this moment," Ten Hag told reporters.
Luke Shaw
Shaw is currently out with a thigh injury picked up in the win over Brentford last week, which meant he missed the Sevilla match.
'He is doing good,” Ten Hag said this week. “[The] progress we are happy with, but he is not ready for tomorrow's game against Sevilla. Hopefully, he will return quickly.”
Alejandro Garnacho
The young winger was injured in the goalless draw with Southampton last month. He left Old Trafford on crutches and has been in rehabilitation for the past month.
“I can't say exactly at this moment, but it will take weeks,” Ten Hag said last month. “A foul and a serious injury once again, after Christian Eriksen. He will be back before the end of the season.”
Tom Heaton
The back-up goalkeeper suffered an ankle injury before the international break and is still out.
Donny van de Beek
The Dutch midfielder was ruled out of the rest of the season due to a knee injury picked up in January.
“The bad news is he is out for the rest of the season,” Ten Hag said at the time. “But the good news is, in the long term, his knee will be OK, and he will be ready to play at the highest levels for the start of pre-season.”
Mason Greenwood
Greenwood remains unavailable for selection. The forward is currently subject to an internal investigation by the club and is neither training nor playing for the team.
He was suspended after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were brought against him. These charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February.
