Manchester United will be severely depleted for their crucial Premier League trip to face high-flying Aston Villa this weekend, with manager Ruben Amorim confirming a total of six players will be unavailable.
Confirmed Absences Hit United Squad
The Red Devils will be missing a combination of players due to injury, suspension, and international duty. Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are both ruled out as they continue to nurse injuries, leaving a significant gap in the heart of the defence.
Furthermore, the club is feeling the immediate impact of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, and Noussair Mazraoui have all departed to join their respective national teams and will be absent for the fixture at Villa Park.
Completing the list of unavailable personnel is experienced midfielder Casemiro. The Brazilian picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during Monday night's match against Bournemouth, triggering an automatic one-match suspension.
Amorim's Press Conference Update
Addressing the media ahead of the Sunday encounter, Ruben Amorim provided a clear update on his squad's fitness. "I think everyone is well, we have one more training session but today the rest of the guys are ready to go," the United boss stated.
When specifically asked if the aforementioned centre-backs, Maguire and De Ligt, had recovered in time, Amorim was unequivocal: "No. I'm saying that nobody recovers, nobody else is out." This confirms the defensive duo will play no part against Unai Emery's side.
A Formidable Villa Test Awaits
The task facing United's patched-up side is a daunting one. Aston Villa are in exceptional form and are targeting a remarkable tenth consecutive victory across all competitions this weekend.
Amorim was full of praise for the opposition and their manager, acknowledging the scale of the challenge. "Everything can happen," he said. "They have a manager with a lot of experience, you can see when you watch Villa you can sense it's a very mature team."
He highlighted the composure instilled by Unai Emery, noting: "He doesn't panic when they're losing, he doesn't feel overwhelmed when winning, he can control the emotion. I think they are a very strong team. If they are going to fight until the end, I don't know, but they are capable of that."
Despite their injury woes, Manchester United will travel to the West Midlands with some confidence from their recent away form, having secured victories in their last two matches on the road.
