Team news update: Man Utd dealt blow, OGS set to be without 6 players for West Ham

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is facing a selection headache as Manchester United are set to be without six players for the visit of West Ham this weekend.

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com this morning that Alexis Sanchez is expected to miss the game on Saturday evening. The Chilean international has returned to full training this week after recovering from a knee injury but the attacker is still lacking match fitness so his return is likely to be delayed until the return leg against Barcelona next week.

Nemanja Matic missed the Champions League first leg defeat in midweek due to illness and the Man Utd boss doesn’t expect the Serbian international to recover in time to start against West Ham at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Matic was able to train on his own away from the main squad on Thursday and the midfielder will be assessed later today but it’s unlikely we’ll see the 30-year-old returning to action against the Hammers on Saturday evening.

Solskjaer also confirmed that Ander Herrera remains on the sidelines after missing the Barcelona game on Wednesday night with a muscle problem. The Man Utd boss suggested that Herrera’s injury could be linked to uncertainty surrounding his future but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be available for upcoming games with Chelsea and Man City.

With Luke Shaw and Ashley Young both suspended tomorrow and Antonio Valencia still unavailable due to injury, Man Utd have a lack of options in the full-back areas but Solskjaer says Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo are available while Phil Jones could also fill-in.

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:

“We don’t have full-backs this week. Not too many as we’ve lost Luke and Ashley through suspension. Antonio [Valencia] is still not fit. Maybe Matteo [Darmian] will be available for the bench and [Marcos] Rojo has been training for a while.

”He’s available and we’ve got Jonah [Phil Jones], who could also play there. Rojo needed to get out on the big pitch [in the Under-23s, against West Brom last Friday] so he could have that game but we’ve had a couple of practice matches so let’s see what we decide.“

“We’re getting better and better but, of course, Nemanja fell ill. I’m not sure he’s going to be ready. Alexis is getting close but I’m not sure he’ll be ready yet.”

The United boss then told the ManchesterEveningNews at his press conference:

“[Herrera] Still out, won’t be available. Maybe the future might have been worrying him and maybe that’s part of the reason he’s injured, who knows he doesn’t know hopefully he can be available for Chelsea or City but I’m not sure. He got another muscle injury.

“I doubt Nemanja is available because of his illness, maybe because he’s warrior and wants to join in and help his teammates. Le’ts see after today. He trained individually yesterday.”

“He [Sanchez] is training with us, he’s trained twice, trained today, I’m not sure if he’s gonna be available, he is injury free but not sure 100 percent for tomorrow, maybe more likely for Barcelona game. Let’s see.”

Solskjaer didn’t give any mention of Eric Bailly during his team news update so we have to assume the centre-back is also unavailable meaning Man Utd could be without six or seven players tomorrow – depending on whether Matic is able to prove his fitness.

Man Utd welcome West Ham to Old Trafford sitting sixth in the Premier League table but they can move to within two points of third-placed Chelsea with a win tomorrow evening.