(Football news) Manchester United came into the international break fresh from an FA Cup victory (4–3) over Liverpool that guaranteed them a position in the competition’s semi-finals.
The team led by Erik ten Hag triumphed over Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford in their most recent league game on March 9. They are now sixth in the Premier League standings, six points behind fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur and nine points ahead of fourth-place Aston Villa, who still have a game to play.
When Man United visits the Brentford Community Stadium to take on Thomas Frank’s team, they will be looking to make it three straight victories across all competitions.
Amad Diallo will be suspended this weekend, having been sent off against Liverpool last time out for removing his shirt after netting a last-gasp winner against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also definitely out, with the former facing a battle to return before the end of the campaign due to a muscular issue, while the latter has not featured at all this season, having been forced to undergo two separate knee operations.
Anthony Martial is also not yet ready to return, with the Frenchman working his way back from the groin operation which he underwent towards the end of January.
There are question marks over the fitness of five other players, with Ten Hag set to be asked about his squad during his press conference on Friday afternoon.
Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir will need to be assessed ahead of the trip to Brentford, with both players absent against Liverpool last time out due to minor issues.Casemiro, meanwhile, picked up a muscular injury ahead of the Liverpool match, which saw him withdraw from the Brazil squad, and the experienced midfielder is a major doubt for the Brentford game.
Harry Maguire made his return from injury off the bench against Liverpool, and he then linked up with England but was forced off against Brazil on Saturday and then withdrew from the squad ahead of the Belgium game.
The ex-Red Devils captain is therefore a major doubt for the trip to West London, but the team could receive a huge fitness boost in the middle of their defence. Although Lisandro Martinez hasn’t played since the beginning of February, he made progress in his knee injury recuperation over the international break by training with the Argentina team in the US before returning to Manchester last weekend.
The 26-year-old, who has only made eight Premier League appearances so far this year, may now be added back into the lineup for Brentford’s match.
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