Ruben Amorim consoles Leny Yoro on the Old Trafford pitch after a defeat, as Noussair Mazraoui walks behind them.
Manchester United's injury situation is far from ideal. (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images.)
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim faces an anxious wait to find out if centre-backs Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt will be available for the Europa League final.
The duo were absent from the open training session United hosted at Carrington on Wednesday morning as part of their preparations for next Wednesday night's clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Yoro was forced off in the second half of Sunday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham United at Old Trafford with a foot problem and De Ligt has missed the last two games after being forced off in the first half of the 4-3 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this month.
Issuing an update on the duo on Wednesday afternoon, 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."
Amid the prospect of them missing out, United could go into battle against Spurs with a patched up defence. Diogo Dalot is also fighting to be ready in time for the final and he is doing all he can.
But with Yoro and De Ligt currently the main concerns, MEN Sport has looked at three possible defences Amorim could deploy if they both miss out:
The obvious choice
United must get through Friday night's trip to Chelsea before switching their focus completely towards the Europa League final, but with less than a week to go, supporters are beginning to paint a picture in their minds of how they expect United to line up in Bilbao.
With Amad back in the frame after a spell out injured, he could start at right wing-back, allowing Noussair Mazraoui to move into the back-three and operate as the right-sided centre-back. He has proven countless times this season that he is capable of doing a solid job from most positions on the pitch.
Harry Maguire's resurrection has continued and he should be one of the very first names on the teamsheet. He is an obvious choice to start in the centre of the back-three.
A Manchester United starting XI displayed on a football pitch graphic.
The XI is as follows:
GK: Onana
CB: Mazraoui
CB: Maguire
CB: Shaw
RWB: Amad
CM: Ugarte
CM: Casemiro
LWB: Dorgu
CAM: Garnacho
CAM: Fernandes
ST: Hojlund
If Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt miss out, this could be Manchester United's strongest XI.
On the presumption Yoro and De Ligt miss out, likewise youngster Ayden Heaven, who is also still sidelined, Luke Shaw is a strong candidate to start as the left-sided centre-back and provide United with a left-footed presence in the backline.
He does not have the necessary athleticism to play as a wing-back in Amorim's system, making a centre-back spot ideal for him. Patrick Dorgu is a likely starter at left wing-back.
A fitting farewell
This summer's transfer window is likely to mark the end of the road at Old Trafford for several members of the squad. Victor Lindelof is highly likely to be moved on when his contract expires at the end of June, yet he could play a more prominent role than first thought between now and the finish line.
The Swede, who will turn 31 in the summer, could retain his place for the third Europa League game running and start as the right-sided centre-back, just as he did against Athletic Bilbao in the two legs of the semi-final. That could see him operate in a three-man defence alongside Maguire and Shaw, with Mazraoui and Dorgu flanking the three centre-backs.
Amad's starting position could have a huge bearing on the landscape of the defence, with the Ivorian capable of playing at both right wing-back and right-sided No.10. If he starts as one of the playmakers, potentially at Alejandro Garnacho's expense, Mazraoui could be pushed into the right-wing back role.
Dalot's fitness could also have a part to play.
A Manchester United starting XI displayed on a football pitch graphic.
The XI is as follows:
GK: Onana
CB: Lindelof
CB: Maguire
CB: Shaw
RWB: Mazraoui
CM: Ugarte
CM: Casemiro
LWB: Dorgu
CAM: Amad
CAM: Fernandes
ST: Hojlund
Victor Lindelof could start the final.
Shaw can't start
Despite missing almost all of this season through injury, the prospect of Shaw's fitness levels stopping him from starting against Spurs would be a real blow. His profile as a left-footed player can provide the backline with balance in the absence of Lisandro Martinez and Heaven.
Yoro, despite being right-footed, has excelled on the left of the defence recently, but few in United's pool of centre-backs can progress the ball as well as he can, particularly on their unnatural side. If Shaw can't start for whatever reason, and the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge should offer a clearer indication of Amorim's plans for the final, Lindelof may have to start on the left of the back-three.
If that proves to be the case, Mazraoui must start as the right-sided centre-back, with Maguire stationed in the middle. That scenario would leave Amad with a free run at starting as the right wing-back, though Dalot could give him a run for his money if passed fit.
A Manchester United starting XI displayed on a football pitch graphic.
The XI is as follows:
GK: Onana
CB: Mazraoui
CB: Maguire
CB: Lindelof
RWB: Amad
CM: Ugarte
CM: Casemiro
LWB: Dorgu
CAM: Garnacho
CAM: Fernandes
ST: Hojlund
Noussair Mazraoui may be tasked with starting at right-sided centre-back.