October 16th 2024.
Erik ten Hag, the head coach of Manchester United, is facing a tough challenge as he prepares for their upcoming Premier League match against Brentford. The team has been hit with some major injury concerns, leaving ten Hag with a selection dilemma.
Last week, three players - Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and Amad Diallo - returned to Manchester from international duty earlier than expected for medical assessment. While the severity of their injuries is unknown, fans are hoping that they were just precautionary measures ahead of a busy schedule of games in both domestic and European competitions.
The biggest concerns for ten Hag lie in the defense, with captain Harry Maguire sidelined due to a knee problem and Noussair Mazraoui not expected to return until next month after undergoing a minor heart procedure. In addition, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are still unavailable, and with Diogo Dalot shifting back to his regular position at right-back, there is a gap at left-back that needs to be filled.
One option for ten Hag is to shift 36-year-old Jonny Evans to the left-back position, with Lisandro Martinez also capable of playing there. Another potential solution could be to give 17-year-old Harry Amass a chance, but there are concerns from the coaching staff about whether he is physically ready for the demands of senior football.
The injury concerns extend to the midfield as well, with summer signing Leny Yoro joining four other senior defensive options on the sidelines. There are also doubts about Manuel Ugarte, who was forced off the field while playing for Uruguay in their World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. The midfielder reportedly asked to be substituted due to pain in his right thigh, and he has been used sparingly by ten Hag since his move from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, there is some good news as Mason Mount has returned to training after his recent setback. He could potentially feature in the game against Brentford, which is scheduled for Saturday at 3pm. Unfortunately for fans in the UK, the match will not be broadcast live due to its kick-off time.
With all these injury concerns, it remains to be seen how ten Hag will line up his team for the game. But here is a predicted starting XI: Onana, Dalot, De Ligt, Evans, Martinez, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund.
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