Erik ten Hag dealt brutal blow as Kobbie Mainoo ruled out for seven Man Utd matches as extent of hamstring injury is revealed

The 19-year-old picked up the muscle injury during United’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on October 6 which forced him to withdraw from the England squad last week. Now, the Red Devils have confirmed that Mainoo will remain sidelined until the next international break, expected in about a month’s time.

Mainoo’s absence comes at a crucial time for United, who are set to face a series of challenging fixtures. He is expected to miss the upcoming Premier League match at home against Brentford, followed by the Europa League trip to Fenerbahce. In total, Mainoo’s absence could span over seven games, leaving manager Erik ten Hag with significant selection dilemmas in the midfield as Manuel Ugarte picked up a thigh injury during Uruguay’s 0-0 draw against Ecuador. If he does not recover in time, Ten Hag may only have two fit senior central midfielders available - Christian Eriksen and Casemiro - to contain Brentford at home over the weekend.

In a bit of positive news, some of United’s injured players are making progress in their recovery. Mason Mount, who missed United’s last two matches due to head and muscle injuries, is reportedly recovering well. Left-back Luke Shaw, who has not played for United since suffering a calf injury during pre-season, is also making steady progress. Moreover, full-back Noussair Mazraoui, who had been sidelined after undergoing minor heart surgery following a scare during the Aston Villa match, has rejoined the squad. Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo have also resumed training after missing international duty due to minor injuries, providing Ten Hag with some much-needed reinforcement ahead of the congested fixture list.

As Ten Hag grapples with the challenge of assembling a competitive squad amidst these fitness concerns, the next few weeks will be crucial not only for the club’s performance on the field but also for the manager’s future at Old Trafford. The team’s depth will be tested as Thomas Frank's men are expected to pose a stiff challenge to the Red Devils and it remains to be seen how they will fare without key players like Mainoo and others.