Erik ten Hag has revealed when Manchester United can expect both Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro back from injury.
Key centre-back Martinez has not played for the club since September having aggravated the serious foot problem he originally suffered earlier this year.
The Argentine World Cup winner fractured his metatarsal in the Europa League quarter-final clash with Sevilla back in April and underwent surgery that saw him miss the final weeks of the 2022/23 campaign, including the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Martinez returned during pre-season and featured six times to open the new campaign, before sustaining a setback that required another operation and has seen him sidelined ever since.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, meanwhile, last featured in the Carabao Cup defeat by Newcastle in early November as his return from an ankle injury was cut short by a new hamstring issue.
Both players were expected to be out for several weeks and then until at least after Christmas, while Ten Hag has now revealed that he is expecting them each back in mid-January.
That is also the case for Mason Mount, whose frustrating debut season at Old Trafford has been interrupted by a nagging calf injury.
Centre-backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof also won't play until early January, with the former struggling with a groin injury and the latter now having undergone minor surgery on an unspecified issue.
United are also struggling with illness in camp ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to West Ham as they look to build on the positives from last weekend's goalless draw with fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
"Now we have some doubts," Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. "We have some illnesses during the week, so we have to see who is always available for tomorrow. Hopefully they are recovered but we have to see.
"(Casemiro and Martinez) are not available before Christmas, so that will be mid-January we expect them back.
"Mason Mount similar into January. Harry Maguire I expect him early on and Victor Lindelof is not available. He has done a surgery so he will be out for a couple of weeks."
Anthony Martial is among the United players to have been sidelined with illness of late, while Tyrell Malacia (knee) is also still injured and Amad Diallo building up his fitness after a serious knee injury suffered during pre-season.
Christian Eriksen should be involved against West Ham having returned to training at Carrington this week following his own knee injury that has kept him out since the 1-0 win over Luton at Old Trafford on November 11.
United will also get influential captain Bruno Fernandes back against West Ham after he was suspended for the meeting with Liverpool for collecting a fifth yellow card of the season, though Diogo Dalot will now serve a one-game ban after his controversial late sending off on Merseyside.
Jadon Sancho remains absent for the Red Devils and could well leave the club in the January transfer window amid his ongoing stand-off with Ten Hag, having not played at all since August.
