Amorim faces FIVE injuries for Man Utd debut - with Yoro's availability clear

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 22 Nov 2024 12:35 GMT
3 min read

Ruben Amorim is set to take charge of his first Manchester United match at the weekend as the Red Devils face Ipswich Town in the late Sunday kick-off.

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The Portuguese head coach joined earlier this month from Sporting CP, with Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim spell stopping the rut set in from Erik ten Hag's tenure. The Dutchman was the first managerial casualty of the season after leading the club to a woeful start to the campaign.

But all eyes will now be on Amorim as he prepares to take on the newly-promoted Ipswich at Portman Road. Speaking to Gary Neville via Sky Sports, he opened up on how difficult it was to depart Sporting.

He said: "It was really hard but I had to do it. I already had conversations with clubs so it was quite normal. But what I felt at the time was this is my place. I think it was the right club in the right moment for me.

"It was very tough to leave Sporting because in the middle of the season, you can say everything, it's Manchester United, it's everything, it's the club that I want, but you are leaving your guys in the middle of the season. So it was really hard, but I had to do it."

Man Utd's injury list

But ahead of his debut, the 39-year-old has been handed some fresh injury concerns. Lisandro Martinez might be out after he returned home from international duty early citing a back concern.

Fellow defender Victor Lindelof suffered a hamstring injury playing for Sweden and will miss the game as a result.

Former United captain Harry Maguire won't be available either. He sustained a muscle injury during United's draw with Aston Villa earlier this season and has been out ever since. Left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are unlikely to play but both are making a return to fitness. Shaw was back in training before the break and Dutchman Malacia, who has been out for almost a year-and-a-hald, played in United's Under-21s last week.

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Kobbie Mainoo remains sidelined. He, like Maguire, picked up an injury during United's 0-0 draw with Villa on October 6. The youngster has made a return to training but will be out for the club's upcoming game.

Leny Yoro could make his first competitive appearance for United this weekend, in what could be a huge defensive boost for Amorim. The French teenager sustained a foot fracture in pre-season and consequently missed the first few months of his inaugural United campaign.