Manchester United forward Bendito Mantato has suffered an ankle injury that could see him miss the rest of the season, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The Red Devils are pushing to return to the Champions League next season and currently sit third in the Premier League table with just seven games remaining, with a seven-point gap above sixth-placed Chelsea following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week.
But interim manager Michael Carrick will now have one less forward option to choose from for the remainder of the campaign, after the youngster picked up an injury during an Under-21's game against Chelsea at the weekend.
Mantato Suffers Ankle Injury
Bendito Mantato Manchester United
Mantato, who made his first-team debut for the club earlier this season as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Wolves, picked up an ankle injury after coming on as a substitute against Chelsea earlier this month, and is now understood to be wearing a protective boot.
The 18-year-old's season is now considered to be over, in a major blow for the winger, who will miss out on the remainder of the FA Youth Cup campaign, as well as any opportunity to feature for the first-team once again.
Mantato started against all of Peterborough, Derby County, and Oxford United in the competition's early rounds, but was forced to watch from the stands when the U18s beat Sunderland in the quarter-finals last week. They are scheduled to face off against Crystal Palace in the semi-finals, before a potential derby in the final.
GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed previously that the teenager is very highly-rated within the club, and there had been plans to 'fast-track' him into the first-team this season, before Ruben Amorim was sacked. The club showed their value in him by handing him a new long-term contract earlier this year too.
Attacking Options at Man Utd Slim
Manchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick claps the fans
While Mantato hasn't featured under Carrick so far, the attacking options at the current boss' disposal are relatively slim.
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Amad have all been sharing starts between them, while Mason Mount has recently returned from injury, and Joshua Zirkzee and Shea Lacey has been involved in match-day squads too.
But an injury or two in the final weeks of the season would leave the manager with very few options, and having Mantato available could have been a wildcard option to win games. Now Carrick will have to find alternatives instead, and Mantato's attention should turn towards recovery and next season.
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