Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given an extensive update on his squad’s health ahead of Wednesday’s match away to Crystal Palace.
United lost three players – Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and substitute Jesse Lingard – to injury during the first half of Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, while Nemanja Matic did not start the match.
Additionally, there were concerns over Marcus Rashford, who appeared to limp through much of the game after receiving a heavy challenge in the first few minutes.
“Well, the three we had to take off [Herrera, Lingard, Mata], they’re not going to be ready,” Solskjaer told MUTV.
“As for Rashy [Marcus Rashford], we’re going to work on him for as long as we can to see if he gets ready because that wasn’t as bad as we first feared, so luckily I don’t think we damaged it any more by him finishing the game.
“He might have a chance of playing. Then again I don’t think there’ll be anyone else coming back for this game. So there’ll be a chance for the kids.”
Speaking in his press conference, Solskjaer added: “Matteo [Darmian] trained the other day, I don’t think he’ll be ready yet, because he trained yesterday.
“Marcos [Rojo] has been training, so hopefully will be involved. The muscle injuries – it’s still early to think about them. There are quite a few players out.”
The Norwegian also confirmed Phil Jones will be absent from the journey to south London.
“Phil has been ill, so he’s been out for a little while as well with an illness, but luckily at centre-back position there’s quite a few fit ones. Eric, Chris and Victor, the three of them, they’re ready.”
On whether Anthony Martial or Antonio Valencia could return, Solskjaer told reporters at the Aon Training Complex:
“Valencia is a bit off, because he did his calf again, so he’s still a few weeks off. He’s started running, but he’s still a few weeks off.\
“Martial is not going to be ready for this one either. We can’t risk it, so maybe [he’ll be back for] Southampton but we’re not going to risk another one too early.
“In hindsight maybe you can say Jesse was eager, he ticked all the boxes in training, had done all the recovery work and rehab, but maybe it was a couple of days too early, but then again it was Liverpool and he was desperate to be a part of it.”
Like Ole’s Reds, Crystal Palace come into Wednesday’s match full of confidence, after thrashing Leicester 4-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, in what proved to be Claude Puel’s final match as the Foxes manager.
Two goals from Man of the Match Wilfried Zaha mean the former United winger is back to his best, but the Eagles do have some injury concerns of their own.
Mamadou Sakho did not finish the game at Leicester, and will require an injury assessment, while highly-rated young full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed the game entirely due to a hamstring problem.
Martin Kelly (muscle strain) was also unavailable, while Connor Wickham and Pape Souare are more long-term absentees.