Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw could return to face Nottingham Forest after missing the last two games with injury; Erik ten Hag explained the reasons for replacing Bruno Fernandes and Antony in the 2-2 draw against Sevilla in the Europa League
Erik ten Hag believes there should be no excuse for a Manchester United squad member playing poorly and says every remaining game of the season is a fight and a struggle.
Manchester United received a timely boost with Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay both facing Nottingham Forest live on Super Sunday.
Shaw has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, but the England full-back is expected to train before the trip to the City Ground to ease United’s injury crisis.
Asked for an update on Shaw and McTominay who were also absent from Thursday’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford, United manager Erik ten Hag: ” By Sunday, [Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay] may be [available].
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“We have to wait and see. We still have two or three sessions to go. I don’t know at the moment but Scott and Luke might come back to the team but I’m not sure.”
Ten Hag is still awaiting an update on the fitness of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as United prepare for Sunday’s Premier League game at Forest.
Varane came off at half-time against Sevilla and Martinez was carried off on a stretcher towards the end of the game after pulling himself up with his right ankle.
Luke Shaw could face Nottingham Forest again
When asked if he could provide an update on the couple, Ten Hag shook his head and said, “Sorry no. It’s not even 24 hours, so I don’t have a full diagnosis, so I can’t say right now.”
When the United boss received reports of Martinez’s broken metatarsal, Ten Hag said: “I can’t say at the moment.
“If we have any news, we will pass it on to you directly. But we do the medical treatment, we do the evaluation, we do a comprehensive diagnosis, we do a comprehensive diagnosis, and then we’ll bring the news.
Ten Hag says other players have to step down and have suffered two injuries, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both out
“It’s not changing at the moment. I have an idea [what it is], but I’m not causing speculation.”
Ten Hag is confident that Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof can bridge the gap.
“I have a lot of confidence,” said the United manager. “I think I have good central defenders and they have shown it in the past and they have shown it this season. I think we have four or five very good centre-backs who can do the job.”
Darren Ambrose stood in disbelief as an own goal from Harry Maguire leveled Sevilla with Manchester United in the Europa League clash
Ten Hag: Don’t look like a cow!
Ten Hag was again asked to explain why Bruno Fernandes and Antony came on as second-half substitutes against Sevilla with United in control.
Fernandes was booked early in the half for an unintentional handball, a harsh decision by the referee that resulted in a one-game suspension in the competition.
Antony has also walked a tightrope after being warned himself and has been embroiled in an ongoing battle with Sevilla full-back Marcos Acuna.
Ten Hag explained: “Bruno threw the ball away and I had a feeling he was going to be out next time. In the first half, a player from Sevilla was booked for that, so the referee called him Safe. “Antonio got into a one-on-one battle which wasn’t necessary. He was cheering on his opponent [Acuna], so you risked being sent off.”
“Where I’m from, that’s called staring the bull in the eye. It’s easy to look at things in hindsight.
“If he’s been kicked out, you wonder ‘why didn’t you kick him out? Why did you take the risk?'”
