Man Utd fans ‘gutted’ as TWO stars including new signing & in-form ace join Mainoo in pulling out of international duty
MANCHESTER UNITED fans are concerned after learning TWO more stars have withdrawn from international duty due to injuries.
Kobbie Mainoo had already pulled out of the England squad on Monday due to a fitness issue after he was replaced by Casemiro in the 85th minute during the goalless draw with Aston Villa.
But now he has been joined by two Red Devils players who also started the stalemate at Villa Park on Sunday.
Right-back Noussair Mazraoui has withdrawn from the Morocco squad after being replaced by Victor Lindelof at half-time on the weekend.
And Alejandro Garnacho has pulled out of Argentinian duty with an injury.
That is despite having played the full 90 minutes against Villa.
According to Manchester Evening News, he has been managing a knee injury for the last week – the reason behind him coming off the bench in the 3-3 draw with Porto.
The fitness blows are the latest concern for manager Erik ten Hag as pressure grows following Man Utd‘s worst ever start to a Premier League season.
Reacting to the news, one fan replied: “Ten Hag has injured half of his players while achieving draws only”.
Another added: “Gutting”.
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A third said: “So Many Injuries. Get Well Soon ”.
While a fourth responded: “Man Utd cursed has started”.
Mainoo, Mazraoui and Garnacho join Harry Maguire as fresh injury worries after the England centre-back limped off during the Villa draw.
Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia are also sidelined.
It comes as Man Utd bosses prepare to meet for crunch talks in London on Tuesday amid reports linking ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel with replacing Ten Hag.
Man Utd player ratings vs Villa: Evans rolls back the years with Garnacho let down
MANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.
United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.
JONNY EVANS – 9
Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7
Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.
Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here!
Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.
SUBS
MATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.
VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.
ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.
CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United.