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Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven was forced off with injury against Leicester City on Sunday
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven was forced off against Leicester City on Sunday evening in the only negative from a game that saw the Red Devils secure a 3-0 win over the Foxes. The result rounded off a positive week that also saw them qualify for the last eight of the Europa League.
Bruno Fernandes provided the assists for Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho as the United pair scored in each half before Fernandes sealed the win with third goal in the 90th minute. The victory was marred by a potential injury to Heaven, who was carried off on a stretcher early in the second half. The former Arsenal defender was injured in a challenge with Patson Daka at the start of the second half. He received treatment for around five minutes before being replaced by Toby Collyer after 51 minutes.
The injury came off the back of a positive assessment of his performances by former Premier League player Dion Dublin. He said on Premier League productions: “He looks very comfortable. When I was at the [Real] Sociedad game, De Ligt was talking to him all the way through the game, and he’ll need that little bit of reassurance from the seniors around him. But he’s playing like he’s played a couple of seasons for United, he’s asking for the ball, he’s making the angles in order to be free to get the ball.
“As a young player, sometimes you don’t make the angles and then you don’t get the ball. He wants it all the time. His defensive mindset is very good, so yeah, he’s gonna be around for a long time. We just hope [his injury] is not too bad.”
Amorim gives injury update
United boss Ruben Amorim was impressed by Heaven when he came off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the start of March. The 18-year-old replaced the injured Leny Yoro and was praised by his manager for that display. Amorim said after the draw with Gunners: “So relaxed, very aggressive and I think we have a very good player there.”
Heaven started the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Thursday and he was put in to start against Leicester City and would likely have been given several more minutes had he not picked up his injury. Speaking after the game, Amorim provided an update, saying: “It’s hard to know because we have to evaluate during the week.
“Even when he was on the ground he cannot speak and doesn’t know to explain what he’s feeling because he’s so young. He already played well against Arsenal and Real Sociedad. Today for me was the most difficult game for him because we expect him to relax a bit, but he was so focused.”
What Heaven did leaving King Power Stadium
Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News and United We Stand podcast host Andy Mitten both spotted Heaven leaving Leicester City on Sunday night. They reported the player was in a protective boot but that he was walking unaided. It remains unclear how long Heaven could be out but his ability to walk without any help will provide a minor boost to United as they prepare for some important games after the international break.
READ MORE - Rejected by West Ham and playing in goal: The making of Manchester United's new £1.5m star Ayden Heaven
The Red Devils visit Nottingham Forest on April 1 in their first game back after the international games while Manchester City are their next opponents as Pep Guardiola’s side visit Old Trafford on April 6. After that, comes the club’s first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash with Lyon on April 10. The away leg is a week later while they travel to Newcastle United in-between those games.
In other news, Fabrizio Romano has shared a future update on key Man Utd star who is “so important and staying.”