Manchester United are poised to have Noussair Mazraoui fit for their mammoth game with Aston Villa this Sunday – but Lisandro Martinez is due to remain sidelined
Noussair Mazraoui looks to have shaken an injury issue and is due to be available on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United could be set to welcome Noussair Mazraoui back as they prepare for their crunch clash with Aston Villa – which could have huge ramifications for the Champions League spots.
Mazraoui was forced off late on in the loss at Newcastle, which left him in a race against time to be fit for the clash with the Midlands outfit at Old Trafford. He is now back training and looks like he’ll be available to Michael Carrick.
The game at St James’ Park, the first loss of the Carrick era, was the Moroccan’s first start for the Red Devils since he returned from AFCON. He had been a regular for his country as they reached the final, eventually losing to Senegal in controversial circumstances.
The ex-Bayern Munich man has forced his way back into the fold and will be among those in contention to play on the right side of the defence.
It is a welcome boost for Carrick, who will be be without Lisandro Martinez after the defender suffered a setback in training. The Argentine has missed the past three Premier League outings with a calf injury and is unlikely to feature against Villa as the club take precautions.
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The centre-back had partnered with Harry Maguire in the first five matches of Carrick’s second coming, but the World Cup winner had spent 10 months on the sidelines following a cruciate ligament injury, thus the medical staff want to tread carefully after the Daily Mail reported he had suffered a ‘slight reaction’.
Leny Yoro has come into the side to replace Martinez for those fixtures – and the young Frenchman is expected keep his place for Sunday’s home game against Villa, especially with next to no more fit centre-halves available. Matthijs de Ligt is also injured with youngster Ayden Heaven likely sitting on the bench on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez’s injury issue is set to keep him sidelined(Image: PA)
United were beaten 2-1 in this fixture when the teams played at Villa Park earlier this season, but the fortunes of both teams have changed notably since then. The Red Devils now sit in third, ahead of Unai Emery’s side on goal difference.
Villa had been talked up as outsiders for the title back in December, but since the turn of the year their form has fallen off a cliff. They now face the realistic possibility of slipping out the top five and missing out on the Champions League. Chelsea recently hammered them 4-1 with Emery overseeing a run of three wins in 11 games.
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