Man Utd search for centre-back and striker after injury blow

Manchester United are expected to ramp up their search for a new centre-back and striker after devastating injuries to Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund left their squad looking light going into the opening weeks of the season.

The Premier League side were dealt the hammer blow last night when it was confirmed the pair would be out for three months and six weeks respectively.

Both players limped off in the first half of United's defeat to Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. Yoro has fractured a metatarsal in his left foot and Hojlund suffered a hamstring strain.

The news is a massive setback for Erik ten Hag and leaves the Dutch manager desperately searching for fresh faces ahead of the new season, The Telegraph reports.

The Red Devils have been looking to bolster their centre-back options over the summer, targeting Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, but the latest injury crisis might increase the urgency of a new signing.

As for Hojlund, his spell of the sidelines will leave a massive hole in Ten Hag's forward line which might be filled by new £36.5m signing Joshua Zirkzee.

The 23-year-old's lack of experience in the Premier League might leave United with no choice but to bring in a new recruit.

Brentford's Ivan Toney is an option for Ten Hag after impressing for England during the Euros despite starting the Three Lions' matches from the bench.

The striker, 28, set up Harry Kane's dramatic extra-time winner against Slovakia in the last 16 before making headlines by coolly notching home a penalty in the shoot-out against Switzerland without even looking at the ball.

New signing Yoro, 18, only signed for United from Lille two weeks ago and was playing his second game for the club against Arsenal. He suffered the injury just after the half-hour mark and went off immediately after receiving treatment.

When Yoro was spotted on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot three days after the game on Tuesday, it raised concerns that the injury was more serious than first feared.

United confirmed on Wednesday that he will be out for three months, although the player wants to stay on the club's tour of the US and will be assessed further when he gets back to Manchester next week.

With Lisandro Martinez yet to resume training after playing for Argentina in the Copa America, Ten Hag could be left to choose between Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof in central defence.

Lindelof, in particular, is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford but may now stay to provide cover.

The setbacks are reminiscent of United's problems on tour in the US last summer when Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo suffered injuries that kept them out of action until November and December respectively.

Diallo damaged knee ligaments in the opening tour game against Arsenal in New Jersey and required surgery, while Mainoo hurt his foot in the defeat to Real Madrid in Houston and did not play again for another four months.