More injury misery for Man Utd! Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans ruled out as Red Devils face defensive crisis

United have confirmed that both Varane and Evans will be out this weekend against Bournemouth. The former will be out for "the next few weeks" after sustaining a muscle injury against Chelsea. Evans also has a muscle issue, but the club have confirmed it is "shorter-term".

United are now without six senior defenders. Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof are also injured, and with Evans and Varane joining them on the treatment table, Erik ten Hag faces a selection crisis. Against Liverpool last time out, the Dutchman fielded a centre-back pairing of Harry Maguire and 19-year-old Willy Kambwala, with 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass and 18-year-old centre-back Habeeb Ogunneye on the bench.

The club issued a statement, reading: "Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will be out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury sustained during our game against Chelsea last week.

"The French World Cup winner is aiming to be back in action before the end of the season in May.

"Fellow centre-back Jonny Evans will also miss Saturday’s game against Bournemouth with a shorter-term muscle issue."

United go into this weekend's game aiming to remain sixth and close the gap on fifth in the process. They are currently 11 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa and fourth-placed Tottenham.