Man Utd team news: Solskjaer dealt double injury blow + trio face late tests

Manchester United will be looking to keep their top four hopes alive with victory over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and he’s provided a team news update including the latest on a number of his first team squad.

The United boss started off by offering a positive update on Eric Bailly as he says the defender is relieved he didn’t damage his cruciate ligament after suffering a knee injury against Chelsea last weekend. The centre-back has still been ruled out for several weeks but Solskjaer is confident Bailly will be back to start pre-season training ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

The Norwegian coach also revealed that Mason Greenwood has been ruled out of the trip to Huddersfield this weekend after picking up a knock in training while goalkeeper Sergio Romero is out with a knee problem.

Solskjaer remained coy on other possible absentees this weekend, saying he has a ‘few little niggles’ to deal with, but he refused to name any names. However, injury analyst Ben Dinnery claims that Jesse Lingard, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford are among the players who’ll be assessed ahead of the trip to Huddersfield.

Lingard missed the Chelsea game with a knee injury, Smalling also sat out the 1-1 draw with a knock while Rashford suffered a shoulder problem against the Blues last Sunday so they could be doubts this weekend.

One player who is expected to miss out against Huddersfield is Romelu Lukaku as Dinnery claims the Belgian international may miss United’s final two games after aggravating a hamstring injury against Chelsea but Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia could be available as they’ve trained as normal this week.

Romero suffers a setback in training meaning De Gea will start in goal at Huddersfield. "I would think so, yeah, or he will play," confirmed OGS. "Sergio was injured yesterday so didn’t train, tweaked his knee, so David’s been training well this week." #MUFC

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) May 3, 2019

Lukaku may not play again this season after aggravating a hamstring problem last weekend. Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia have trained as normal. Jesse Lingard (knee inflammation), Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford (shoulder) are among those who will be assessed. #MUFC #HTAFC

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) May 3, 2019

Solskjaer told ManUtd.com:

“Eric [Bailly] has probably been the one smiling the most out of all of us because you fear the worst. You fear the cruciate. You’re always worried that it might be nine or 12 months out, but we think he’ll be back for pre-season, so that’s positive.

”There are a few little niggles, so let’s count the numbers on Sunday morning, I reckon. Mason [Greenwood] started off this week training but then he’s out injured again, unfortunately.

“We were looking at bringing him into the squad for the last two games – maybe he’ll make the last one [against Cardiff].”

Man Utd head to the John Smith’s Stadium sitting sixth in the Premier League table – three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea with a worse goal difference – so realistically they need a win on Sunday to stand any chance of snatching a Champions League qualification place.