Erik ten Hag is hopeful Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay will return to the Manchester United squad for Sunday’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
United’s mission to secure a top four finish and more silverware this season took a major hit on Thursday night after a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Old Trafford.
While the hosts threw away a two-goal lead, injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez provided the biggest cause for concern.
Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-half pairing have now joined Marcus Rashford on the sidelines with a groin problem, with no clear indication on when he will be fit to return to action.
Shaw meanwhile has missed United’s last two games with McTominay, who scored the opening goal against Everton on Saturday, absent on Thursday.
Asked if those missing players will be available, ten Hag told a press conference on Friday: ‘For Sunday? Yeah, [there] could be, but we have to see.
‘We have now two sessions to go of training, so I don’t know by now, but it can be that Scott and Luke return in the squad, but [I’m] not sure.’
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are expected to resume their partnership at the back on Sunday against Forest but Shaw could be another option at centre-half having impressed in that role at the start of the year.
Varane was replaced at half-time on Thursday having picked up a knock in the first-half against Sevilla with Martinez going down unchallenged late on, clutching the back of his heel.
Ten Hag insisted post-match the Argentina international had not suffered an Achilles injury but was unable to offer a definitive update on the pair.
‘No sorry. It’s not even 24 hours so I don’t have complete diagnoses so I can’t tell you in this moment,’ he said.
Asked whether Martinez may have suffered a metatarsal rather than an Achilles injury as was speculated, he added: ‘I can’t say in this moment.
‘When we have news we will give it straight to you. But let’s do the medical, do their assessment and full diagnosis, complete diagnosis and then give the news. But I think it doesn’t change in this moment.’
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