Mainoo was United’s breakout star of pre-season but received a blow when he picked up an injury during a friendly game vs. Real Madrid.

He returned to training during the October international break. During his presser before the Sheffield United match, Ten Hag told reporters that the Englishman was not fit enough to feature at Bramall Lane, although he was nearing a return to action.

Manchester Evening News have provided an update on Mainoo and indicated that he could be available for selection to face FC Copenhagen.

“Mainoo’s return to the United line-up is on the horizon after the young midfielder featured in training. There had been hope he would feature against the Blades but he was not a member of the squad,” the outlet says.

Another player expected to be included in the starting XI is Sergio Reguilon.

Unlike Mainoo, the Spaniard was a surprise exclusion from the matchday squad that travelled to face Paul Heckingbottom’s men on Saturday.

MEN states on Reguilon, “The issue with the on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender is not thought to be serious and he should be making a return to the line-up shortly after a good start at Old Trafford.”

Against the Blades, Jonny Evans formed a solid centre-back partnership with Harry Maguire in the absence of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane who was on the bench, seemingly not yet fully fit after a brief period on the sidelines.

There were concerns when Evans – who has started well at United during his second spell – went down and had to be replaced by Varane.

However, it’s understood that he was only substituted as a precaution and it was nothing serious.

The North Ireland international should be good to play in the Champions League this week as United look to get out of their group and proceed to the next round of the competition.

Ten Hag will not be able to count on the services of Casemiro who is still in Brazil recovering from a physical setback sustained during the international break.

In any case, the 31-year-old was suspended after being red-carded against Galatasaray.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw remain long-term absentees.

Wan-Bissaka who suffered a hamstring injury could return in November, with Shaw a little bit further away from making a comeback.

As per MEN, there is a real possibility that Martinez has played his last game of the year, with January 2024 looking like a realistic return period for the World Cup winner.

With respect to Amad Diallo, “The young winger has been posting updates on his social media channels documenting his progress. He has been training which suggests a return may not be far off but a time frame has not been revealed yet.”

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United are bottom of the group with zero points after losing to Bayern Munich in Germany and Galatasaray in Manchester last time out.

Anything less than three points against the Danish side will almost certainly lead to elimination from the competition at the group stage.

Andre Onana will be hoping to build on his solid performance against Sheffield United on Saturday as he retains his place in goal.

Harry Maguire was voted man of the match in that game and with Sergio Reguilon expected to return to the left back position, Ten Hag will also have Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane vying for centre back roles. Jonny Evans may also be in the mix although he may have tweaked his hamstring on Saturday and was replaced by Varane late on.

Despite Maguire’s improvement, we think Ten Hag will keep his faith in Varane and Lindelof, with Diogo Dalot occupying the right back berth.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez all remain unavailable due to injury.

In midfield, one player who will definitely miss the game is Casemiro as he serves a one-match ban for his sending off against Gala. Donny van de Beek was not registered to play in the competition so he, too, is sure to miss out.

Kobbie Mainoo is pushing for a return to action after an injury layoff but he is not likely to start. This leaves the options of Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

United looked a lot more balanced against the Blades when Eriksen was introduced and we think he might win a start alongside Amrabat and Fernandes.

Up front, Antony was very disappointing at the weekend and Alejandro Garnacho looked lively coming off the bench. Switching Marcus Rashford to the right flank again would allow the Argentinian to start the game, giving the Brazilian a rest. Rasmus Hojlund is expected to lead the line again with Anthony Martial likely to feature from the bench only.

Jadon Sancho remains unavailable due to disciplinary reasons.

With all that in mind, here is our predicted XI for tomorrow’s game:

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Sergio Reguilon and Raphael Varane should return to the starting XI to shore up the defence after a makeshift backline played against Brentford.

Amidst the leaking goals, Andre Onana has been backed by the manager and he will keep his place for this game. However, Ten Hag has warned him that he needs to sort himself out soon.

Ahead of him, Varane will come into the team at the expense of Harry Maguire. Victor Lindelof should partner him.

Reguilon’s return will also enable Diogo Dalot to shift to his preferred right-back spot, making a back four of Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, and Reguilon.

There is a headache in the midfield with Casemiro ruled out due to injury.

However, Kobbie Mainoo is a wild card to be in the squad after “looking sharp” in an appearance for the first team against Barnsley during the international break.

Undisputed starters in midfield are Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat in the Brazilian’s absence. Mainoo might come off the bench.

Christian Eriksen might have to contend with a bench role again as Amrabat offers more physicality, running, grit and defensive nous than the Dane.

The attack picks itself after Antony’s return to the club. He will take his place on the right wing.

Alongside him will be two heroes of the international break.

Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford flourished for Denmark and England respectively and will be relied upon to provide the goals that put the Blades away in this tricky away fixture.

With all that in mind, here is our predicted XI for tomorrow’s game:

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Quite a few players are sidelined long-term while a few are nearing fitness but remain in need of match practice. There are other fringe players who also could do with some much-needed game time.

As has become the norm under Erik ten Hag, the club conducted yet another behind-closed-doors friendly, this time against League One opposition Barnsley.

Another behind-closed-doors friendly for United

The Peoples Person had reported yesterday about the friendly encounter and the fact that academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo will not be part of the contest.

Mainoo, who suffered an unfortunate injury during pre-season, had been training with the first team for some time now but it seems a return remains some way off.

Sergio Reguilon narrowly missed out on the chance to be part of the Brentford matchday squad and was scheduled to take part in the game.

As per The Manchester Evening News, Antony and Donny van de Beek started the game as they looked to build match fitness.

The Brazilian was missing for almost a month after allegations of domestic abuse emerged with United stating the winger would only return once investigations were over.

Donny, Antony start for United

He has since come back and made a couple of substitute appearances and the game was a perfect chance to build some match fitness as Ten Hag is desperate for a right winger.

As for Van de Beek, he was excluded from the Champions League squad and the club tried desperately to offload him in the summer but to no avail.

He has garnered a grand total of 21 minutes for United this season across two substitute appearances and he will be trying to prove his worth to his former Ajax coach.

The versatile midfielder did score a goal with United emerging comfortable 3-0 winners with the team having plenty of U21 players, just as Barnsley.

Whether the goal does anything for his prospects this season remains to be seen. There is also a lack of clarity about whether any other first-team star took part in the contest.

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Injuries have severely hampered United’s displays this season with manager Erik ten Hag hardly ever having the luxury of picking his first-choice XI.

The manager is without a left-back at present with loan signing Sergio Reguilon, who came in after Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia‘s long-term injuries, also sidelined.

Behind-closed-doors friendly

The Spaniard was close to making the matchday squad for the Brentford game, indicating he is close to reaching full fitness. There are others like Kobbie Mainoo who have also begun training in a bid to rejoin the first team.

According to The Daily Mail, United have arranged for a behind-closed-doors friendly match against League One side Barnsley on Tuesday.

This will allow a few players who are nearing fitness to get some much-needed game time while a few academy graduates are also in need of match practice.

Whether Raphael Varane will make the game is a doubt but Reguilon is expected to play a part. However, Mainoo is still not ready as per Chris Wheeler.

“United have arranged a behind-closed-doors game against Barnsley on Tuesday as several of their injured stars near a return to action.

“Sergio Reguilon is on his way back after missing the last four games, and Kobbie Mainoo was also due to play against the League One club.

“However, that now seems unlikely after it was decided that the run-out may have come a little too soon for him.”

Mainoo will miss the game

Mainoo suffered an unfortunate injury in pre-season against Real Madrid and it was a big blow as the manager had tipped him for a major role this season.

It seems he is still not fit enough but he has been spotted training with his teammates so a return cannot be too far. Ten Hag can surely do with his dynamic presence in midfield.

The rest of the players in the game are set to be composed of academy stars who were given the chance to utilize first-team facilities with the major stars having departed for international duty.

Quite a few first-team stars, who are not playing regularly and are not part of international duty could also take part and further clarity will emerge on the day of the game.

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Injuries have not helped the manager, with the defence suffering the most. The Dutchman has never managed to field his first-choice back-four this season due to injury.

One of the areas most badly affected is at left-back with all three players currently sidelined. Tyrell Malacia was the first to suffer an injury, which has seen him miss the entire pre-season and all games so far.

United’s injury problems at LB

Luke Shaw, the first-choice left-back, is yet to play since the Tottenham Hotspur game and these two long-term injuries forced the club to dip into the market towards the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

A lot of candidates were scrutinised, but in the end, it was Spurs star Sergio Reguilon who arrived on deadline day but after a couple of promising displays, he suffered a hamstring injury as well.

He is not expected to be back before the international break, with right-back Diogo Dalot filling in at one point while currently, midfield Sofyan Amrabat has been forced to play there.

The club have suffered because of the Moroccan’s inability to play there, which was meant to happen against the big teams and the manager must be ruing his luck.

Interestingly, Ten Hag had the option of playing academy graduate Alvaro Fernandez in that position but he chose to send him out on loan to Granada, thinking he was not quite ready for the step-up.

Maybe a break clause in his contract would have allowed the Spaniard to return to Old Trafford during such an emergency. But United never included such a clause. The earliest United can recall him is in January.

“The Manchester Evening News revealed at the time that United’s ongoing defensive crisis was not going to alter their plans to loan him out given they were confident of securing a replacement on loan.

Alvaro Fernandez can be recalled, but not more January

“It is also understood United do not have an option to cut Fernandez’s spell in Spain short at this moment of time, though there is a break clause in the deal to recall him in January if required,” The Manchester Evening News reported.

Given Reguilon’s injury record, Ten Hag will either be hoping to see either of Malacia or Shaw regain full fitness and form, or he may be forced to recall the 20-year-old in January when the mid-season break clause becomes active.

Fernandez has enjoyed a decent spell in La Liga so far, featuring in three of the five league matches he has been eligible for since joining.

The 26-year-old Reguilon had missed 29 games for Atletico Madrid last season during his loan there and United should have realised the injury worries associated with Reguilon before signing him.

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According to ESPN’s Rob Dawson, Reguilon was part of the group that carried out sessions at Carrington on Friday morning.

Sergio Reguilon trained with Man United this morning so there’s a possibility he will be fit to return this weekend. Ten Hag holding a press conference in about half an hour.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) October 6, 2023

The Spaniard came off injured during United’s 1-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.

He seemed to be clutching his hamstring although the exact nature of the setback he suffered was not specified by the club.

Reguilon missed subsequent games against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, Palace again in the Premier League and more recently, Galatasaray in the Champions League.

In all three games, Erik ten Hag was forced to come up with stop-gap solutions.

Sofyan Amrabat, naturally a midfielder, primarily played as a left-back and did relatively well. It was clear however that Reguilon was sorely missed.

A report covered by The Peoples Person indicated that Reguilon was expected to come back after the upcoming international break.

However, it seems that he stepped up his recovery and could be playing for United at least a game earlier.

His return ahead of the must-win game vs. Thomas Frank’s men will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to Ten Hag and the team.

At one point, Diogo Dalot was the only fit senior full-back on the club’s books.

Before his injury, Reguilon was performing well and it was relayed that a permanent Old Trafford stay for the 26-year-old cannot be permanently ruled out.

In addition to providing more cover to the defensive department, Reguilon’s comeback could also finally allow Ten Hag to deploy Amrabat higher up the pitch, where he is more suited.

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Samuel Luckhurst has revealed that while the Spaniard did not train yesterday, the “provisional aim” is for Reguilón to return this weekend.

No sign of Sergio Reguilon training. Provisional aim is for him to be fit for Brentford. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 2, 2023

Manchester United welcome Brentford to Old Trafford on Saturday at 3pm as Erik ten Hag’s side looks to make amends for the wrongs of last week.

A disappointing 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at home ensured Ten Hag has presided over the first United side in the Premier League era to lose four of their opening seven league games. This group of players truly love breaking records.

United will face off against Galatasaray in the Champions League tonight, though this is expected to come too early for Reguilón.

Ten Hag will be boosted by the Spaniard’s return as he is the only natural left-back in the squad at present, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia continuing to recover from their own injury concerns.

Sofyan Amrabat was deployed at left-back in the last two games, with contrasting results.

The pace and threat Reguilón offers down the left-hand side of the pitch will be a welcome addition, however, particularly for Marcus Rashford, who is currently enduring one of his worst bouts of form in a United shirt.

The English forward was widely criticised on the weekend for an abject display in which he continuously gave the ball away and rarely troubled the Crystal Palace fullback.

The addition of a natural left-back with the speed and stamina to provide a constant overlap could be the key to lifting Rashford out of this funk however. It’s little surprise United’s number ten’s form has plummeted without his trusted left-hand side ally – Shaw.

While Amrabat offered quality on the ball against Palace, his tendency to invert into midfield offers little support to Rashford. Reguilón’s flying style will be far more complimentary to United’s most potent attacker.

Reguilón’s return will, therefore, be a significant boost to a team who have looked starved of attacking threat in recent weeks.

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Reguilon joined United late into the summer transfer window.

After long-term injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, it became necessary for United to secure the services of a left-back so as not to leave Erik ten Hag short in the position.

A number of options including Marcos Alonso, Ryan Bertrand and Marc Cucurella were considered before United eventually settled on Reguilon.

The player has had a fantastic start to life at United.

He was superb in games against Brighton and Bayern Munich despite the fact both clashes ended in defeats. He was crucial as United ended their losing run at Turf Moor in a 1-0 victory.

He went off injured during that match. A report covered by The Peoples Person indicated that Reguilon is still recovering and as a result, will not be available for selection against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

There is a chance the 26-year-old will not be back at least until after the October international break.

The Manchester Evening News spoke to Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent for Football London, who revealed why the North London outfit decided to part ways with Reguilon.

Gold said, “He was nowhere near a starting spot really with Destiny Udogie first choice and Ben Davies as back-up as well as other players who can fill in at left-back. They were looking to offload the Spaniard for any decent offer that he would also accept.”

“Reguilon is a popular player within the squad and was given a chance to impress under Postecoglou in pre-season after a year away at Atletico, but looked quite shaky with his defending whenever called upon during the friendlies.”

“It’s more about consistency. Reguilon would have a terrific game here or there, but ultimately he never really managed to impress over a sustained period of time. I felt sorry for him at Atletico last season as he had injury woes and ended up in hospital with a stomach problem at one point.”

On whether Tottenham considered the fact that they would be strengthening a direct rival, Gold remarked, “I don’t think so to be honest, such was the desire to move him on and free up a foreign player spot in the squad.”

He reiterated that Tottenham are happy with the start Reguilon has made at Old Trafford as it will only serve to increase his value.

It’s understood that Posteclogou’s side are keen on permanently selling the player to United.

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If there’s one area where Manchester United appears to be struggling more than their major rivals, it’s their seemingly ever-extending injury crisis.

As listed by Premier Injuries, Man United have 10 players unavailable, the second-highest amount in the Premier League behind a struggling Chelsea side.

This morning, United’s injury woes got even worse.

The Peoples Person revealed that left-back Sergio Reguilon is the latest player to enter the treatment room, with a minor injury threatening to keep him out of action until after the international break in October.

With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both still on the sidelines, United are now without a natural left-back available for selection.

Key centre-back Lisandro Martinez is the day’s other injury casualty, and he could be out of action for up to three months after aggravating a foot injury that he suffered in April.

While United have been boosted by the recoveries of Raphael Varane, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat, all of whom impressed during United’s 3-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday night, this doesn’t compensate for the fact that further players seem to be continually being ruled out of action.

Still, the question remains – why are United constantly faced with an extensive list of injured players?

Because Erik ten Hag does a good job of keeping details on his players’ injuries under wraps, this proves to be a difficult question to answer.

When Scott McTominay was out for five weeks with an ankle injury, the Dutch manager withheld the real reason for his absence until after the midfielder returned to action.

He also kept the real nature of Varane’s and Mount’s recent injuries under wraps.

But while Ten Hag has done his best to remain secretive, other senior officials have made their feelings known on the matter.

According to several club officials, United players have been largely vulnerable to injuries due to the many fixtures that they have been required to play over the past few seasons.

United played 63 matches in all competitions last season; the most of any team in Europe’s top five leagues.

After remaining secretive for so long, Erik ten Hag finally let the cat out of the bag on his club’s injury crisis, admitting today that this sort of heavy workload is exactly the reason why his squad is struggling.

“Players can’t deal anymore with this overload and I think that’s what you see in this squad at the moment,” the United boss confirmed today in a press conference.

While United did well to add a multitude of new signings to their ranks during the summer transfer window, it will be vital for Ten Hag and his coaching staff to rotate and manage players meticulously, ensuring that they make the most of their now-greater squad depth and working toward preventing further unnecessary injury complications.

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