Manchester United have been hit by yet another new injury concern after a fourth player withdrew from international duty in a matter of days.
The struggling Red Devils went into the latest international break with fresh fitness concerns over defensive duo Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui, both of whom were substituted at half-time of Sunday’s goalless Premier League draw at Aston Villa.
Maguire - who had to be helped off the pitch by United’s medical staff at Villa Park - had not been named in Lee Carsley’s latest England squad for the Nations League double-header against Greece and Finland, though presumably may have been considered as a replacement for Villa’s Ezri Konsa had he not also been hurt in the same game.
Mazraoui promptly withdrew from the Morocco squad for Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers against the Central African Republic, while United team-mate Alejandro Garnacho then pulled out of the Argentina squad to face Venezuela and Bolivia with knee issues.
Also on Monday, Kobbie Mainoo withdrew from the England squad as a “precaution” following a knock sustained against Villa.
Now that quartet have been joined by Amad Diallo, who will no longer play any part for the Ivory Coast in their AFCON qualifying double-header against Sierra Leone after returning to United for “medical monitoring”.
The Ivorian Football Federation wrote in a statement on social media on Wednesday: “The Ivorian Football Federation informs the press and the public that the player Amad Diallo, arrived in group on Monday October 7, 2024, as part of the 3rd and 4th Days of the CAN qualifiers Morocco 2025, is declared forfeit for health reasons.
“To do this, the #mufc striker returns to his club for medical monitoring this Wednesday October 9, 2024.”
United will hope that none of these new injury problems are serious as they prepare to face Brentford in the Premier League next weekend, with under-fire manager Erik ten Hag reportedly expecting to remain in charge at Old Trafford after a meeting of the club’s executive committee on Tuesday.
They are already without defenders Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia due to injury, along with midfielder Mason Mount.
£58.9million summer signing Yoro has this week posted an encouraging new update on his recovery from surgery on a foot issue suffered in pre-season that was expected to keep him sidelined for three months, while England international Shaw has not played for United since February and fellow left-back Malacia not at all since the final day of the 2022/23 season.
Mount, meanwhile, has missed the last two games against Aston Villa and Porto after suffering a head injury late on in the 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham, having himself only replaced the injured Mainoo in the first half days after returning from a calf problem.
