MANCHESTER UNITED will once again have to pin their hopes on Willy Kambwala this weekend.
The 19-year-old is set to start alongside Harry Maguire against Bournemouth after the Red Devils confirmed a double injury setback.
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans will both miss out on Saturday evening.
United have confirmed Varane will be out for a few weeks after suffering a muscle injury against Chelsea earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Evans has a shorter-term muscle issue but will not be available this weekend.
The latest setback leaves Kambwala and Maguire as the only fit centre-backs available to Erik ten Hag.
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Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are already sidelined and not expected to return until at least May.
However, United fans are relishing the opportunity to see more of Kambwala in action.
Reacting to the injury news on social media, one supporter wrote: “They can rest easy,” alongside a picture of the French teenager.
Another also added: “Now is your time, Willy Kambwala.”
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Meanwhile, a third fan commented: “Time for Willy to step up.”
Kambwala, who joined United from Sochaux aged 16 in 2020, has made eight first-team appearances for the club.
The first of those came when he started against West Ham in December, but he had to wait until last weekend for his second start.
Injuries to Varane and Evans forced Ten Hag to recall Kambwala against Liverpool at Anfield, though.
He is now set for a run in the side as United face a busy end to the season.
The Red Devils have seven Premier League matches remaining as well as an FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on April 21.
Willy Kambwala wants to become rock at the back for Man Utd… but Erik ten Hag probably won’t be around to see it
By Ken Lawrence
ERIK TEN HAG insists he is still the right man to take Manchester United forward.
The Dutchman believes he can recapture their former glories, despite escaping for the second time in a row what could have been humiliation by Liverpool at the weekend.
And teen Willy Kambwala revealed his “passion” is to become a rock at the heart of United’s defence after making just his second start of the season against their bitter rivals.
United trailed 1-0 at half-time on Sunday but fought back to take a 2-1 lead before Mo Salah’s 84th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.
Ten Hag was pleased with the second-half performance, declaring it “another signal and message for the future,” before adding, “the team and squad have high potential.”
Yet the Old Trafford chief sounds more and more like he has his finger stuck in a leaky dyke and does not think it is going to hold.
Comeback or not, United still threw away a lead for the third time in eight days following their 4-3 defeat to Chelsea and 1-1 draw with Brentford — both deep into injury time.
And his body language suggests he expects to be crossing it to go back to Holland with his P45 this summer
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
