Manchester United are facing a defensive crisis ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday.
The Red Devils are already set to be without Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire for the crunch clash at Stamford Bridge, with the Argentine serving a three-game suspension following his red card against Leeds United, while Maguire is serving an additional one-game ban for swearing at officials after his red card against Bournemouth. Matthijs De Ligt is also out due to a back injury.
But now it has emerged that manager Michael Carrick will be without yet another central defender for the game, after one star picked up an injury in training and didn't travel for the game.
Leny Yoro Suffers Injury, Won't Play vs Chelsea
leny yoro
According to a report by Samuel Luckhurst, Man Utd star Leny Yoro has suffered an injury in training and hasn't travelled with the rest of the squad to London for Saturday's game.
The French defender has started 18 Premier League games this season, including each of the last six games, in the absence of both Martinez and Maguire for differing reasons. With both the senior options set to miss the game due to suspension, Yoro was expected to start at Stamford Bridge.
However, an undisclosed injury means he won't be present, and Carrick will now be forced to name Ayden Heaven alongside either an even younger defender or someone playing out of position for the clash.
Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw have both played at centre-back this season, although it was in a back three, while Tyler Fredricson has played for the first-team before, and Casemiro filled in at centre-back after Martinez's red card on Monday night.
Man Utd Face Defensive Crisis
Manchester United's Leny Yoro looks dejected
Manchester United's Leny Yoro looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
Maguire will thankfully be back in the side from next week barring any more twists, but with Martinez suspended for three games and concerns that Yoro could now be missing for the rest of the season, Carrick is facing a crisis.
De Ligt may also not return this season having not featured since November, and with United knowing that a defeat to Chelsea could see them sucked back into a battle for Champions League qualification, having only Maguire and Heaven available as senior centre-back options isn't ideal.
It's a huge blow for Yoro too, who had another chance to show his development and cement himself as a top young defender, and everyone involved will be hopeful that it's nothing too serious.
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