Solskjaer facing selection headache after Man Utd confirm fresh injury blow

Manchester United are facing a defensive selection headache after confirming Eric Bailly has been ruled out for their remaining two games with a knee ligament injury suffered against Chelsea at the weekend.

Bailly has struggled to establish himself under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in recent months after falling down the pecking order but he was recalled to start his first Premier League game since February when United entertained Chelsea on Sunday.

The Ivory Coast international was enjoying an impressive afternoon’s work as he looked assured at the back for the Red Devils as they battled to a 1-1 draw with fourth-placed Chelsea at Old Trafford.

However, Bailly was unable to complete the game as he limped off in the 71st minute to be replaced by Marcos Rojo after suffering a knee injury and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted after the match that he though the problem was serious.

United have now confirmed on ManUtd.com that Bailly has damaged the medial ligament on his right knee and has therefore been ruled out of their final two league games against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.

The club haven’t put any timescale on the recovery but such an injury usually takes at least two months to overcome so Man Utd have also confirmed Bailly won’t play any part in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament this summer.

The 25-year-old had initially hoped to recover in time to represent the Ivory Coast at the AFCON – which will be held in Egypt from 21 June to 19 July – but he will now be forced to watch from the sidelines.

This news will come as a blow to Solskjaer as the United boss already had limited options at centre-back on Sunday with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both missing the Chelsea game due to fitness problems.

It remains to be seen whether either player will be fit to return against Huddersfield on Sunday but as it stands Victor Lindelof and Marcos Rojo are Man Utd’s only fit senior centre-back options.

United sit sixth in the Premier League table – three points off Chelsea with a worse goal difference – so they need to win their remaining two games to stand any chance of snatching fourth place.