Manchester United's preparations for a pivotal Premier League trip to Aston Villa have been severely disrupted, with four first-team players ruled out of Sunday's encounter at Villa Park.
Casemiro Suspension Adds to Erik ten Hag's Woes
The Red Devils' midfield will be significantly weakened after Casemiro picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Monday's dramatic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. The Brazilian's caution, shown by referee Simon Hooper for a foul on Marcus Tavernier, triggers an automatic one-match suspension.
This ruling comes as a major blow for manager Erik ten Hag, as Casemiro will now miss the crucial away fixture against Unai Emery's high-flying side.
AFCON Call-Ups Deplete United Squad Further
Compounding the selection crisis, United will be without three more players due to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui have all joined up with their respective national squads and will be unavailable for the clash in the West Midlands.
This triple absence strips United of attacking and defensive options at a critical juncture of the season.
Injury Doubts and League Table Context
There are also concerns over the fitness of central defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, who both missed the Bournemouth match through injury. Their potential absence would further weaken a backline facing a Villa side sitting seven points above United in third place.
The match takes on added significance given the gap between the teams. Villa strengthened their position with a win over West Ham last weekend, while United's draw at Old Trafford highlighted their defensive frailties.
Sunday's showdown at Villa Park now presents a formidable challenge for a depleted Manchester United, who must find a way to overcome significant personnel losses to close the gap on their Champions League-chasing rivals.
