Manchester United are set to face West Ham United this afternoon with a severely depleted squad, as up to nine players are expected to miss the Premier League clash at the London Stadium. The club, which conducted a training session at Brisbane Road—Leyton Orient’s home ground—yesterday, has seen its injury list grow considerably in recent weeks. The latest addition to their troubles is Antony, who sustained an ankle injury during Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
The Brazilian winger, now in his third season at Old Trafford, was stretchered off just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute. He later left the stadium on crutches, with a protective boot on his left foot. Manager Erik ten Hag was unable to provide a detailed update immediately after the game but expressed sympathy for the 23-year-old, stating: “I feel real compassion for him. He worked so hard in training, his performances were good enough to earn him that opportunity. It’s really sad to see him come off so quickly. Hopefully, it’s not too serious; we’ll have to wait 24 hours for the assessment.”
With Antony unlikely to feature today, his absence adds to a lengthy injury list that is causing considerable concern for Ten Hag. The Dutchman is facing a shortage of options in midfield, with Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Toby Collyer, and Dan Gore all currently sidelined. Mainoo, who has been nursing a muscle injury, has missed United’s last two games after featuring in a goalless draw with Aston Villa before the international break. The club has indicated that the young midfielder will be unavailable for several weeks.
The injury crisis extends beyond the midfield, as United are also without center-backs Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro. Maguire has missed the last two matches due to a foot problem, while Yoro, who fractured his metatarsal during the club’s pre-season tour in the United States, is still awaiting his competitive debut for the team. Despite being seen back on the grass at Carrington last week, United are taking a cautious approach with Yoro’s recovery, aiming for a November return.
In addition, full-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain unavailable, despite making strides in their respective recoveries. Shaw has been out of action since February, while Malacia has been missing for over a year, further limiting the team’s defensive options.
This spate of injuries leaves Erik ten Hag with significant selection headaches as United aim to secure a crucial win at the London Stadium. With so many key players unavailable, the manager will need to rely heavily on the squad’s depth to navigate this challenging period and keep the team’s ambitions on track.
