Manchester United are getting ready to face Fulham in their FA Cup quarter-final tie for the final game before the season is paused to accommodate the last set of international fixtures of the season.
Erik ten Hag’s men will be aiming to secure another trip to Wembley this season, having won the Carabao Cup final at the storied venue last month.
Ten Hag has named a strong side for the game against in-form Fulham but there are some notable absentees, with Raphael Varane among those to be left out.
Varane was on the bench in the 1-0 win over Real Betis earlier this week but he was not named in the squad this weekend, with Ten Hag confirming before the game that the Frenchman has sustained an injury.
“He’s injured,” Ten Hag told Manchester United’s media team before being quizzed on the severity of Varane’s injury.
“It is difficult to say but I don’t think (so). I think it’s something small, I think he will recover and he will be back after the international break.”
Varane announced his retirement from international duty after last year’s World Cup and that will allow the Frenchman to recover without the added pressure of additional games in an already heavy schedule.
United have played in every mid-week slot since the turn of the year and Varane has been susceptible to injury in the past – an extended break could be exactly what he needs to ensure a strong end to the campaign.
