Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is currently unsure whether Kobbie Mainoo will be fit to start Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that it is too early to decide whether Kobbie Mainoo will be fit to start Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
Mainoo travelled with the Red Devils squad to Portugal for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Porto, but he was not involved in the 3-3 draw due to an issue which he picked up against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Ten Hag has said that it “was too big a risk” to select the England international against Porto, and it remains to be seen whether he is in the Man United XI against Villa on Sunday afternoon.
“Mainoo didn’t make it. It was too big a risk,” the Red Devils head coach told reporters following the clash with Porto. “We have to wait and see if he [Mainoo] can play on Sunday. If he is fit enough to start or be on the bench.”
Alejandro Garnacho and Harry Maguire were also fitness doubts heading into Thursday’s European fixture, but the pair were able to feature off the bench in Portugal.
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Mainoo will be assessed ahead of Villa fixture
Mason Mount also missed out due to a head injury and separate knock which he sustained against Spurs, and it remains to be seen whether the playmaker is available for selection this weekend.
There will be three definite absentees for the visitors on Sunday, though, with Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw unavailable for selection.
Man United were minutes away from suffering a damaging loss to Porto on Thursday, but Maguire scored a late header to secure a share of the spoils for the 20-time English champions.
There will again be huge pressure on Ten Hag heading into the clash with Villa, though, and a poor result could lead to him being sacked ahead of the October international break.
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Ten Hag questioned on left-back issue at Man United
Diogo Dalot again featured at left-back against Porto, with Shaw and Malacia on the sidelines, but it was another unconvincing performance from the Portugal international.
When questioned on the situation after the match, Ten Hag said: “I think they can both play there [Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot] but, for their patterns, I prefer, in this moment, Dalot.
“But both, of course, [they] are right-backs. There we have had personnel issues already for a long time. We have a personnel issue there [at left-back] and will definitely improve as a team when we get a consistent left-footed left-back.
“We’re waiting for Luke Shaw to return, for Tyrell Malacia to return. It will definitely help the consistent performance levels.”
Man United are currently 13th in the Premier League table, having only picked up seven points from their opening six games of the season courtesy of a record of two wins, one draw and three defeats.
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