Erik ten Hag’s side have been ravaged by injuries throughout the season and things have not improved.
The Red Devils are expected to be without first choice centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane, who picked up a muscle injury in the recent defeat at the hands of Chelsea. Jonny Evans would usually step-in but is out, also, with a muscle issue. Lisandro Martinez would also be in starting contention but remains sidelined with a calf-injury in what has been a frustrating season for the World Cup winner.
On the flanks, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain out, the latter is yet to feature in the 2023/24 campaign. On Malacia, ten Hag said: “It’s going to be difficult for him this season to be available. He will fight. He’s back on the pitch, but not in the team and the process had setbacks. He’s going forwards really slowly.”
The United bosses options are limited in midfield; Scott McTominay is sidelined for the trip to the south coast. However, ten Hag explained that the Scot is close to fitness: “Scott? I don’t think so. We have training, so we have a day, and he will push. He is so keen to be part of it tomorrow, but I think it is very questioning.”
Moving into attack, Anthony Martial is nursing a long-term issue and has featured just 13 times in the Premier League this term. In January, ten Hag said: “Anthony has completed successful surgery to address a groin complaint and will be out of action for about ten weeks as he rehabilitates.”
Marcus Rashford is currently being assessed but may feature in some way at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening. On Rashford, the United boss said: “Rashy trained yesterday, and [we will] see how he recovered from it today. We will have training again today, and then we will make a decision on it.”
Despite the injury setbacks, the 20-time Premier League champions will still be looking to finish as high as possible. Currently, they trail fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by eleven points, the Londoners sit above Aston Villa by a superior goal difference.
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