In what Manchester United fans will hope is not a sign of what’s to come this season, they lost two integral players to injuries over the summer.
During a pre-season tour defeat to Arsenal, both Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro were forced off after sustaining setbacks.
Hojlund picked up a hamstring complaint, which will see him sidelined for around six weeks, while Yoro fractured a metatarsal – the same injury that saw Lisandro Martinez’s debut season end prematurely – and will be out of action for the opening three months of the term.
INEOS chiefs have acted efficiently in signing centre-half coverage for Yoro in the form of Matthijs de Ligt, whose arrival is set to be announced imminently. But, it remains to be seen if another centre-forward can be obtained before deadline day.
United will keep youngster in squad to bolster forward options
Joshua Zirkzee was brought in last month to ease the goalscoring burden on the Dane, and now, youngster Ethan Wheatley will be kept at Old Trafford ‘until at least January’ to add to Ten Hag’s options further up the pitch, per Rich Fay of Manchester World.
The Carrington graduate was promoted to the senior squad last campaign and had been expected to depart on loan to gain invaluable first-team experience in 2024/2025, but will now do so with United instead.
