- Marcus Rashford has been left out of the squad with a ‘heavy leg knock’
- Raphael Varane is among the substitutes again despite recent heavy losses
- Is Erik ten Hag out of his depth at Man United? Listen here to It’s All Kicking Off
Marcus Rashford has been excluded from Manchester United’s squad to face Fulham due to injury, while Raphael Varane has been benched for Jonny Evans again.
Rashford did not train yesterday and underwent a fitness test ahead of the match but has not made the team.
Fabrizio Romano reported that he suffered a ‘heavy leg knock in training’.
Erik ten Hag was criticised for leaving Varane out of the starting 11 against Manchester City for a ‘tactical’ reason but the defender is on the bench again.
United have conceded six in their last two games without the Frenchman at the heart of the defence and many fans could not understand why he was left out of the derby.
Mason Mount, one of their flagship summer signings, has been left among the substitutes once again.
With eight losses in 15 games, it has been their worst start to a season since 1962/63.
A run of three consecutive wins in October gave hope to fans that they had turned a corner, but devastating defeats against Manchester City and Newcastle United’s second string in the Carabao Cup have shattered that optimism.
Rashford’s form after signing a new contract has been a concern and Ten Hag slammed the long-time Old Trafford favourite for his decision to go clubbing after the City defeat.
He said: ‘I spoke with him about it. It’s unacceptable. He apologised and that is it. For us it’s an internal matter.’
While he was not out within 48 hours of their next game against Newcastle, Ten Hag is understood to be frustrated with the optics that partying after such a humiliating defeat can project.
While they only sit two places behind sixth-placed Newcastle, United are already eight points off the top four coming into the weekend.
Injuries have plagued United all season, particularly at full-back, and the ongoing takeover saga has not helped to create a settled environment.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
