Ruben Amorim could be without two first-team stars for Manchester United's clash against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
The Red Devils are reeling from their FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Fulham at the weekend, which ended one of two unlikely routes to European football next term.
United sit 14th in the Premier League as the window for securing a top-half finish - let alone qualification for Europe - closes with every poor result, amid a myriad of issues on and off the pitch.
It's an unwanted set of circumstances that heaps further pressure on their Europa League campaign. Victory in the competition would grant access to the Champions League and its associated riches, which would ease the club's acute financial woes.
However, Amorim has not been aided in this aim by the absence of Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte from first-team training on Wednesday. Both players sustained issues during the weekend defeat by the Cottagers.
Maguire has cemented his place in the starting XI under the Portuguese boss, completing 90 minutes in 11 Premier League matches since Amorim's appointment.
Ugarte, meanwhile, has recovered from a slow start to life at Old Trafford since his £51million move from PSG in the summer, to become a vital member of Amorim's midfield.
The Old Trafford club are already without a host of players due to injury, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo ruled out until the end of the season. The return dates of England internationals Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are unknown.
Elsewhere, positive news comes from youngster Toby Collyer, who could feature against the LaLiga side.
In spite of the reputational and financial rewards that would come with a Europa League triumph, this week Amorim insisted that building for the future is 'more important' to the Red Devils right now.
'Of course we lost last week in the cup, so people are looking at this Europa League as the unique competition that we can win,' he told Sky Sports.
'Also, the connection with winning the Europa League with Champions League (qualification following).
'But, to tell you the truth, I think we have bigger things to think (about). I know it's strange to say that but it's something that we are trying to build here, that is going to be more important than winning a cup in this moment.
'I know the responsibility that we have to fight for every trophy, but in this moment we are trying to build something that is going to last more than any trophy this season.'
fakabdmnor
2
Players like Luke Shaw and Mason Mount should not be on the books of the club if the management of this football club are really serious of taking Man Utd back to the pinnacle of the game. Football is not about sentiments or past glories. You have to be ruthless and direct. Everyone in the club knows that Luke Shaw will never be able to play 60 games a season since his career altering injury almost a decade ago. Yet, he was kept on the books of the club. Buying a misfit like Mount in a club of United’s stature is a criminal act and those who carried out such heinous purchase should be sacked from the club. No disrespect to these hugely talented footballers but the truth is they are at best squad players who will play 10-15 matches at best every season. How can the club sell McTominay and still keep Mount? Aswear, I will do a better job managing United’s resources that those egg heads upstairs.
Racaeiluyz
2
please people give amorim much time to make a good team Eric left alot of problems at the club of man u and alot of key prayers are injured
Pass2Pogba
0
I am talking about the whole team and you only pick up one player who is a substitute anyway
just an example we all know. obviously
rahabckpst
0
RUBEN CANNOT PERFORM BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED SO FAR,BY KEEPING BEYOND THIS SEASON IS A SUCIDE TO THE TEAM, HOJLUND IS A GOOD PLAYER BUT ESPECTED FEEDERS IN THE WINGS ARE NOT THERE,HE IS BETTER THAN ZIRKEE, BALLS WHICH OBI FAILED TO SCORE AGAINST FULHAM COUPLE HAVE BEEN SCORED UNDER HOJLUND WHY REMOVING OUT GANANCHO INSTEAD OF ZIRKEE,
wuuadimrsu
0
I don't Know Exactly What's The Problem Of This Team!!!A Lot Of Players Get Injury No good Results....
rahabckpst
1
RUBEN SHOULD GO,HE TALKS TOO MUCH TO FOOL MANAGEMENT AND FANS ABOUT HIS FAILURES, HIS SYSTEM, THE 4,3,2,1 CANT WORK, ALWAYS UPFRONT HE KILLS ONE WING,HOW CAN HOJLUND GET BALLS, ZIRKEE IS A FINISHED PLAYER WHO IS GIVEN MORE TIME, HE CANT,RUN AND MARK HIS OPPONENTS SO MANY GAMES HIS LOOKS VERY TIRED AND COMPLETELY FINISHED, HE IS ALWAYS A PASSANGER
yuucdeptu
0
we are not winning anything under Amorim.
wuncdrsuyz
0
Right now people who are more pitiful are united fans
paeabikory
1
Monendermeena
1
what the heck united doing in training i cant see anything in match though
Notekmnp
0
if that, then why is he not giving the youth more playing time than giving the like of casmiro,eriksen, linderlof and the rest playing time over them?
hocaimopsu
0
I believe he will get our team better, but people who are opening their wider mouths, who should we bring in, we now have so far since fergie10 tell others who next?
bamadiloty
0
they're paid as a professional. so yes.. just like nunez even though he's being pulled by the team to make him look like a star himself.
I am talking about the whole team and you only pick up one player who is a substitute anyway
Pass2Pogba
0
Do Man U players deserve to be called STARS
they're paid as a professional. so yes.. just like nunez even though he's being pulled by the team to make him look like a star himself.
bamadiloty
3
Do Man U players deserve to be called STARS
Naeimnoptz
0
Amorim out with his pet dalot onana maguire hojlund etc
twikista
2
I don't know what they do in training. None of it shows in the way they play.
Bocbenou
2
Sell