Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expects all of his international stars to return to the Premier League club's Carrington training ground injury-free this weekend.
Marcel Sabitzer injured his knee
Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has picked up a knee injury while on international duty.
Rangnick, who was United's caretaker manager last season, is now in charge of the Austria team and has included Sabitzer in his squad for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Turkey and Estonia. Sabitzer scored a brace in a 4-1 win over Azerbaijan in Linz on Friday night.
However, the United star could miss Monday night's game against Estonia, which also takes place in Linz, due to injury. The news deals a blow to Rangnick's successor at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag, who has been without two key midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Rangnick hopes Sabitzer will be fit to face Estonia. Whether or not the midfielder plays on Monday night, Ten Hag is hopeful he will return to Old Trafford in good shape and ready for United's Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
United signed Sabitzer, 29, on loan from Bayern Munich in January after Eriksen sustained a serious ankle injury during a cup match. The Denmark international, 31, is hoping to return in April but won't be in time for his next game at St James' Park.
Casemiro, 31, is uninjured but is serving a four-match domestic ban after receiving his second red card of the season against Southampton earlier this month. The Brazilian missed one of those games - a 3-1 FA Cup win over Fulham.
Ralf Rangnick hopes Marcel Sabitzer's knee injury is not serious
Ralf Rangnick hopes Marcel Sabitzer's knee injury is not serious
United are also without Donny van de Beek's long-term absence due to a knee injury. Sabitzer's move means Ten Hag may have only Fred and Scott McTominay to choose from for the Newcastle clash. He hopes the Austrian will make a quick recovery.
Rangnick revealed Sabitzer's injury during his pre-match press conference against Estonia. According to a quote from United's website, Rangnick said: "Ultimately what matters is the pain and tolerance for pain of Marcel and Gernot [Trauner, Feyenoord defender].
"Of course, we hope Marcel will do well, especially after the first game in Linz. At the moment, I am optimistic that things can work out but in the end it is a question to know. whether Marcel feels ready for himself." .For now, I guess he'll play.
"It makes more sense to leave them again [of the session], just to give them one more day. But there are enough other candidates."
Rangnick praised Sabitzer after Austria's win over Azerbaijan and also appeared to complement Ten Hag for boosting player confidence. The Austrian boss told Laola 1: "Sabi's performance was outstanding.
"You can't say it any other way. He's just a player with a lot of qualities. I think [the movement] has changed for the better. It really thrives, which is very, very good. He's a lot more confident than when he was at Bayern Munich."
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