Double Blow for United Ahead of Tottenham Test
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been dealt a significant double injury blow ahead of Saturday's crucial Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and defender Lisandro Martinez were both absent as the squad departed from Stockport station on Friday afternoon, confirming they will play no part in the weekend's fixture.
Injury Updates and Squad Selection
The absence of the two key players signals a continued spell on the sidelines. Kobbie Mainoo is yet to start a Premier League game this season and was an unused substitute in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez, who has been working his way back from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, will not be rushed back into action despite returning to full training last week.
In more positive news for the Old Trafford faithful, 18-year-old academy midfielder Jack Fletcher is poised for a potential senior breakthrough. The son of former United star Darren Fletcher is set to be included in the matchday squad for the first time this season, having been named among the first-team on seven occasions last year without making his debut.
Amorim's Philosophy and League Position
Ahead of the 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday, Amorim addressed his selection policy, insisting that consistency in results comes from the entire squad, not just a fixed starting eleven. "We can have different starting XIs and, especially with one game per week, we need to have that fighting during the week," Amorim stated. "I need to make some changes, not just for the short term, but for the long term. The consistency from the results is more a squad thing than a starting XI."
United currently sit eighth in the Premier League table with 17 points from their opening 10 games. However, Amorim's side are unbeaten in their last four league outings, and a victory over Spurs would temporarily propel them to second place in the table. Tottenham, meanwhile, arrive after a mixed week, having lost 1-0 to Chelsea before bouncing back with a 4-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen.
