Manchester United Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Everton Clash
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces significant selection headaches as his team prepares to host Everton at Old Trafford in the Premier League tonight. The Red Devils will be without key summer signing Benjamin Sesko for a number of weeks after the striker picked up a knee injury.
Sesko Sidelined Until Mid-December
The 22-year-old Slovenian international was forced off during the 2-2 draw with Tottenham before the international break, missing subsequent national team duties. While scans have confirmed the damage is not serious, Sesko is not expected to return until mid-December at the earliest.
Amorim admitted on Friday that he cannot provide a precise timeline for Sesko's recovery. However, the manager hopes to have his striker back before attackers Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. The game against Bournemouth on 15 December could be their final match before that international duty.
Forward Options and Doubts
With Sesko unavailable, Matheus Cunha is the expected candidate to lead the line, a role he has filled in several matches this season. However, the Brazilian's participation is now in question following a mysterious 'training ground accident' that prevented him from a community event over the weekend.
The club believes Cunha's issue is minor, leaving open the possibility he could still feature against Everton. Should he be unfit, Joshua Zirkzee stands ready to make his first league start of the campaign. Youngster Chido Obi, who made eight appearances last season, is also an option for more minutes.
Defensive and Midfield Concerns
The injury woes extend beyond the attack. Harry Maguire has been ruled out of tonight's fixture, while Kobbie Mainoo was absent from training on Friday, casting doubt on his availability.
There is more positive news regarding Lisandro Martinez, who has been sidelined since February with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Amorim described the Argentine defender as 'close' to a return but offered no specific date for his comeback.
United head into the match on an unbeaten run of five games, having needed a late Matthijs de Ligt equaliser to secure a point against Tottenham in their last outing.
Predicted Manchester United Lineup
Despite Zirkzee scoring twice in this fixture last season, the preference may be for a fit-again Cunha to start centrally if he passes a late fitness test. This could see Mason Mount return to the starting eleven. Cunha, who has only scored once for United, began the season as the first-choice centre-forward and reprised the role in recent away games at Liverpool and Tottenham.
Kick-off is at 8pm on Monday 24 November. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.
