Kick-off between Manchester United and Manchester City is just moments away and Ole Gunnar Solskjaes has provided an update on star striker Edinson Cavani, who has been left out of the side to face Pep Guardiola’s side.
Cavani started alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time last weekend as he scored in the comfortable 3-0 win over Tottenham, but has now been dealt a huge blow ahead of the upcoming international break.
The 34-year-old was introduced off the bench against Atalanta in midweek but the trip to Italy seems to have come at a cost, the manager has confirmed.
“We’ve had a couple of issues since Italy,” he told Manchester United media when quizzed on Cavani’s absence. “Edi has been one of them, Marcus was only cleared this morning. He’s had a problem as well but luckily, he could be on the bench, and hopefully, if he needs to, come on.”
SN’s verdict on Cavani’s apparent injury…
It’s far from the news Solskjaer needed ahead of a testing period for his side, with games against Chelsea, Villarreal and Arsenal awaiting just after the international break.
Solskjaer has been short of luck this season, with star defender Raphael Varane also sustaining an injury against Atalanta earlier this week. The Norwegian boss will be hoping to have both of his players back as soon as possible.
Mason Greenwood starts against Manchester City in Cavani’s absence – the 20-year-old is enjoying a stellar start to the season and made a positive impact from the bench against Atalanta.
Greenwood was heavily involved in both of United’s goals. He played Bruno Fernandes in for the first-half equaliser before assisting Ronaldo’s 91st-minute strike.
