Manchester United go into their Premier League clash against Aston Villa, dealing with several injury and availability concerns that could influence team selection. Rúben Amorim will have to manage without a number of key players as injuries, suspensions, and international duty continue to affect the squad.
United’s defensive options are limited for the trip to Villa Park. Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined with a back injury and is not expected to be fit in time for the match. Harry Maguire is also unavailable after picking up a thigh problem, leaving Amorim short of experienced centre-backs for a difficult away fixture.
In midfield, United will be without Casemiro, who is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season. His absence removes an important layer of experience and protection in front of the defence, forcing changes in the middle of the park.
United are also missing several players due to international duty. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are all away representing their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their absence limits United’s options on the wings and in defence, areas that already lack depth.
There is some positive news, however, as a few players are getting closer to returning. Benjamin Šeško is making good progress in his recovery from a knee injury and is expected to be available later in December, although the Aston Villa game is likely to come too soon. Lisandro Martínez is also nearing a return after a long spell out and could be eased back into action before the end of the month.
With several first-team players unavailable, United may need to rotate the squad or rely on younger players against Aston Villa. Despite the setbacks, the Red Devils will still be aiming to put in a strong performance and take something from a challenging fixture.
The final squad will be confirmed closer to kick-off, but injuries and absentees are set to play a key role in how Manchester United approach this important Premier League match.
