Fears are growing at Manchester United that defender Raphael Varane will join Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
Varane, 29, was taken off at half-time during United’s Europa League clash with Sevilla at Old Trafford 10 days ago after inflicting further damage to an ankle that has been causing him problems for the last month. And he will once again be missing when the Reds face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Varane has had scans on his ankle after the initial swelling finally started to subside - and the verdict was that he could be out for up to six weeks.
That would rule him out of United’s last eight Premier League games and force Ten Hag to put his faith in Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof to help get his team over the line in their quest for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
United’s medical staff remain hopeful that Varane could still recover in time for the FA Cup Final - if United beat in-form Brighton. But with Martinez carried off against Sevilla with a broken metatarsal that has since required him to undergo surgery, it means Erik ten Hag is currently without both of his first-choice centre-backs.
Maguire and Lindelof were part of a shambolic second-half display as United crashed out of Europe with a 3-0 defeat in Seville on Thursday night.
And with the United captain now suspended for the game at Wembley, it is likely that left-back Luke Shaw will be asked to partner Lindelof.
Ten Hag views Varane’s combination with Martinez as the best he has at his disposal. The 29-year-old Frenchman has shown some imperious form this season.
But he has been plagued by a number of injuries since he arrived in a £29 million deal from Real Madrid two seasons ago. He suffered an ankle problem in the run-up to the World Cup, where he helped France reach the final before they were beaten on penalties by Argentina.
Varane has since retired from international football - despite being in line to become his country’s next captain - in a bid to protect himself from injury.
Speaking ahead of the clash with the Seagulls, Ten Hag admitted that a number within his squad were playing for their long-term future at Old Trafford. “I think we are always playing for our futures, as professional players. Every game is a test, every season is a test and you have to earn the right to wear the shirt,” he explained.
“But also for me as a manager. In that matter, we are in the same boat, but I think we make huge progress. We have the experience now but we have still a way to go. So we have to step up and the good thing is Sunday is the next opportunity. It is a great opportunity, it is the semi-final of the FA Cup.”
