MANCHESTER UNITED will begin a long run of games without Christian Eriksen this week – but the return of two first-team stars could soften the blow.
The Denmark international suffered an ankle injury in the Red Devils’ FA Cup fourth-round clash with Reading last weekend and will be on the sidelines for the next three months.
His absence has forced manager Erik ten Hag to scour the market for a replacement midfielder before tonight’s 11pm deadline.
And it will force him to make changes for the second leg of the club’s Carabao Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
United lead the tie 3-0 following a romp at the City Ground last week.
And Ten Hag is expected to ring in some notable changes for the clash at Old Trafford – including bringing Jadon Sancho back to the fold.
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Sancho hasn’t featured for United since last October due to fitness and mental health issues.
But Ten Hag has revealed the England international will be in the matchday squad for the visit of Premier League strugglers Forest.
In-form United hitman Marcus Rashford could be given a rest to make way for the returning Anthony Martial, who has recovered from a leg injury.
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Despite his troops putting one foot in the final last week, Ten Hag wasn’t completely impressed with his charges’ display at the City Ground.
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He said: “There was one moment that could have changed the game and that is what we have to be aware of.
“We have to improve but overall I think it was a good performance from our team but the first leg is done, one leg to go.
“I have to say, we still didn’t react to counter-attacks. We knew that before and that can’t happen.
“It’s still a moment where we have to learn and improve as a team.
“If we want to be top, we can’t be doing that. Don’t light the fire, we almost let them come into the game.
“We can’t let an opponent come back into the game.
“We started so well, we had so much control and then in one moment everything can change.
“We have to avoid that, we cannot allow opponents to come back into the game.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
