Erik ten Hag is facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final (Picture: getty)
Erik ten Hag is facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City at Wembley.
The Dutchman, who is battling to save his job, will have a big decision to make when contemplating his defensive team selection with Harry Maguire the only fit, recognised centre-half at his disposal.
Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez were already unavailable and youngster Willy Kambwala, who has impressed in recent weeks, is also now on the injury list.
Experienced midfielder Casemiro could drop back to partner Maguire, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka could also move from his customary full-back role.
Teenager defender Louis Jackson has been added to the squad, while Scott McTominay is also included despite doubts surrounding his fitness.
Summer signing Mason Mount is, however, absent once again as his disappointing debut campaign for the Red Devils continues.
ManUtd have included a number of youngsters in their squad for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final (Picture: Eamon and James Clarke)
Confirmed Man Utdsquad vs Coventry
Onana, Heaton, Bayindir, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Jackson, Ogunneye, Amass, Casemiro, Mainoo, Eriksen, McTominay, Fernandes, Garnacho, Antony, Rashford, Hojlund, Wheatley, Forson, Amad
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Coventry boss Mark Robins, meanwhile, has scoffed at the ‘derisory’ criticism of Manchester United, insisting his side’s FA Cup semi-final opponents remain the biggest football club on the planet.
Robins began his career at Old Trafford and his history with the club is firmly intertwined with the cup, with his third round winner against Nottingham Forest in 1990 often cited as the goal that saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack.
Ferguson’s latest successor in the hot seat, Erik ten Hag, could do with firming up his own position and could find himself on extremely rocky ground if the Red Devils were denied a shot at silverware by Championship opposition.
How Man Utd could line-up against Coventry City
Man Utd have only one fit centre-half (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
They are winless in four games since reaching the last four with a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool and sit seventh in the Premier League table, but Robins believes their problems have been overstated.
‘People, pundits, are talking in a derisory way about Manchester United and what they’re doing, how they’re performing,’ he said.
‘For people who are talking about Manchester United are this or that, or they concede lots of shots: you’re talking about a team that is full of talented players, top international players. We know they are clearly favourites to win this game, by a million miles, simple as that.
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‘They can hurt anybody on their day. The game against Liverpool their goals were outstanding. So you’ve got a lot of things to consider, especially as a Championship club going up against the biggest club in the world.
‘For Manchester United, this is a normal occasion. They play at Wembley a lot of times, there’s some England internationals there and other internationals who’ve played at Wembley on numerous occasions. It’s an expectation for them and their supporters; for us it’s slightly different.’
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