Ruben Amorim and Manchester United's players applaud the fans after the defeat to West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim has some big calls to make. (Image: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images.)
The sight of Leny Yoro limping his way down the touchline during the second half of Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to West Ham United last weekend was the last thing Ruben Amorim needed.
United were already without Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez. Yoro was forced off less than ten minutes into the second half after going down clutching his left foot. His absence, along with De Ligt's, from Wednesday morning's open training session at Carrington sparked fears he could be in danger of missing next week's Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
Those fears were confirmed later in the day when Amorim said: "I don't know if they're going to be available, we'll try to push, it's a final, all the players want to play really bad. I don't think they will not go to Chelsea but we'll have some of them for the final."
The prospect of De Ligt and Yoro both missing the final will leave United light on options at centre-back. Martinez will not play again this season and Heaven, despite being back in the squad for the trip to Chelsea, will need time to build up his sharpness after two months without playing.
It means Amorim could find himself boarding the plane to Bilbao next week with a senior centre-back pool of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Heaven.
Maguire, regardless of what happens with De Ligt and Yoro between now and the middle of next week, should start against Spurs. He has continued his renaissance this season and has played a starring role in United's Europa League campaign.
Harry Maguire must start the Europa League final. (Image: Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images.)
However, Lindelof, despite starting both legs of the semi-final triumph against Athletic Bilbao, and Evans, have not been front and centre of United's defence this season. The pair of them are also highly likely to be released this summer.
Amorim may find himself having to ask Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw to tuck into the back-three and operate as the wide centre-backs either side of Maguire.
Mazraoui, who was originally signed last summer to challenge Diogo Dalot at right-back in a back-four, has often played at centre-back under Amorim. The prospect of him starting at right-sided centre-back would open the door for Amad to start at right wing-back, or possibly Dalot, who is also fighting to be fit in time for the final.
On the other side of Maguire, Shaw is realistic option to start. Since making his long-awaited return from injury in April, the former Southampton man has made seven appearances, with practically all of his game time coming as a left-sided centre-back.
His left-footed profile offers United balance and he lacks the athleticism to operate as a wing-back in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system. Heaven, too, is left-footed and is in contention to feature in the capital, but it feels unlikely that he will be thrown straight in after a spell on the sidelines.
It means Amorim could set out his blueprint for the Europa League final by selecting a back-three of Mazraoui, Maguire and Shaw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this evening, which would mark the first time they have started alongside each other as the three centre-backs..
Ruben Amorim has some big calls to make. (Image: Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images.)
Amorim has hinted that he plans to name a strong XI for the trip to the capital, meaning he must strike the right balance between ensuring his players maintain their match sharpness and not taking any unnecessary risks on key players ahead of the tussle with Spurs.
Tyler Fredricson has had a few opportunities in the Premier League of late, but he is very unlikely to start against Spurs, meaning Amorim may overlook him against Chelsea and instead experiment with a back-three that could easily end up starting in Spain.