Injured Man Utd man forced to withdraw from international duty as Man City star facing two months outplaceholder image
Injured Man Utd man forced to withdraw from international duty as Man City star facing two months out | Getty Images
Manchester United and Manchester City have both been handed injury blows ahead of the Manchester derby later this month
Manchester United and Manchester City have both had difficult starts to the 2025-26 campaign as the Manchester rivals prepare to lock horns after the international break.
The Red Devils responded to their shock Carabao Cup exit against League Two Grimsby Town with a dramatic win over Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. It was Ruben Amorim’s first win as Red Devils boss this campaign.
Man City got their campaign off to a flier with a 4-0 win at Wolves, in a result that appeared to signal a return to form for Pep Guardiola’s side. However, City have lost both of their outings since with a 2-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur and a 2-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
City had led 1-0 via an Erling Haaland goal but two second-half strikes from the visitors turned the game around for the Seagulls. It means United sit one point above City heading into the derby after the international break.
Man City injury blow ahead of Man Utd
City are set to be without new signing Rayan Cherki for the game against United. He missed the trip to Brighton and Guardiola confirmed afterwards: “He’s out for two months. Seven or eight weeks.”
Reflecting on the loss, he added: “It’s tiredness. We attacked in the moment and pressed really well, the clearance was short and we didn’t close the gap on the side and they had fast players.
“Khusa can handle it because he is so fast but unfortunately he had a knock and that’s why he could not continue.
“In general, we have been really good at our high pressing and how we recover quick. This was an action in the last minutes when they were tired and have to come back. I think Khusa is fine.”
Man Utd man pulls out of international duty
Matheus Cunha was forced off 30 minutes into the win over Burnley with an apparent hamstring problem.
Ruben Amorim said afterwards: “It was hard to lose Cunha and Mason Mount, because Mason Mount played 30 minutes with an injury. I’m concerned about that, because they are so important for us. We will see.”
The Brazilian national team later confirmed on X that Cunha had withdrawn from the international squad for the upcoming games. It read: “After a conversation between the medical departments of Manchester United and the National Team, attacker Mateus Cunha was released from the call-up due to the muscle injury suffered in the match against Burnley, in the Premier League.”
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