Manchester United fans will be eager to get updates on Raphael Varane’s injury after seeing the French centre-back hobble off the pitch during the 6-3 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side were brushed aside at the Etihad and there is no way to put a shine on losing heavily to your rivals.
To make matters worse for United, Raphael Varane rolled his left ankle in the first half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof before the break.
French newspaper L’Equipe claim Varane has suffered a sprain and will undergo further tests today to determine the extent of the injury. It sounds like the 29-year-old is likely to miss this week’s games against Omonia Nicosia and Everton.
After the match, Ten Hag stressed that the France international was unable to carry on and it would have been silly to risk a player that is prone to injuries.
United cannot afford to be without Varane for long
Varane missed a lot of football last season due to injuries and United cannot afford a repeat of that this time around. The World Cup winner has established himself as part of Ten Hag’s first choice defensive pairing alongside new signing Lisandro Martinez.
The thought of having to replace Varane with Lindelof or Harry Maguire for the coming weeks fills me with dread. It also suggests that both defenders in question are surplus to requirements, although that seems harsh on Lindelof, who is a good squad player.
Next up for United is a trip to Cyprus in the Europa League where Omonia are waiting for the biggest game in their history. Let us know in the comments section who you think Ten Hag will start at centre-back for that game.