Man Utd injury blow as £51m signing limps off to hand Ten Hag selection headache
MANUEL UGARTE has given Erik ten Hag another headache after an injury scare while on international duty.
The £51million summer signing was subbed after 82 minutes of Uruguay’s goalless draw against Ecuador on Tuesday.
He appeared to be in some discomfort and had treatment from one of the medical team before deciding he could not continue.
The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is due to fly back to England today and will be checked when he returns to Carrington.
But another fitness concern is that last thing Ten Hag needs as he starts preparations for Saturday’s clash with Brentford.
It means there are now question marks over TEN United players ahead of a busy run of fixtures over the next three weeks.
Fellow new boy Noussair Mazrouai is out of action for a few weeks following a minor heart procedure – after he had heart palpitations in the draw at Aston Villa.
Like the Moroccan, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho also pulled out of international duty following the game at Villa Park.
And wide man Amad Diallo returned early from a spell with the Ivory Coast squad due to illness.
Full-backs Luke Shaw (calf) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are still sidelined while another defender, Harry Maguire, limped off at Villa with a foot injury which he says will keep him out for a few weeks.
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Summer signing Leny Yoro has still yet to make his competitive debut for United – but is understood to be making good progress in his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
Meanwhile Mason Mount was ruled out of the final two matches before the break but his injury is not believed to be serious.
Ten Hag is due to hold his press conference on Thursday to preview the clash with the Bees and is expected to give updates on some of his absent stars.
The Red Devils recorded 75 different cases of injury last term – the most in the Prem.
The cost of these injuries was £39.81m spent on players Ten Hag could not select.
Manuel Ugarte the next Roy Keane
By PHIL THOMAS
NEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.
It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.
Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.
Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.
For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.
Finally, they have their man.
Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.
Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.
But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.