As Manchester United gear up for their Emirates FA Cup fourth-round clash against Leicester City on Friday night, manager Ruben Amorim faces significant challenges in his defensive lineup. The match, kicking off at 20:00 GMT at Old Trafford, comes on the heels of United’s dramatic victory over Arsenal in the previous round.
The Red Devils’ preparations have been marred by injury concerns, most notably the loss of Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine defender suffered a cruciate ligament injury during last weekend’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. United’s official statement confirmed the severity of the injury, with Martinez now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Amorim addressed the media at Carrington, expressing his concern over Martinez’s condition: “Licha is a difficult situation. He’s going to be out for a while. We don’t know the extent of the injury but it’s an injury that is going to take time.”
The defensive woes are compounded by Luke Shaw’s ongoing fitness issues. Amorim revealed, “Luke, just a little bit, one small issue in a different area from the last injury, so we’ll try to be careful with Luke.” This cautious approach suggests Shaw is unlikely to feature against Leicester.
However, there’s a silver lining for United fans as new signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven are available for selection. When pressed about their potential involvement, Amorim remained coy: “We’ll see. You guys have to wait for tomorrow! But they are ready to play and they are two more solutions to help us in this moment.”
The match also marks a return to Old Trafford for Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former United striker. Van Nistelrooy’s Foxes will be buoyed by the return of Wilfred Ndidi from injury, with the Nigerian midfielder back in contention after a successful week of training.
Van Nistelrooy hinted at potential changes to his squad, including the possibility of young talents Jeremy Monga (15) and Jake Evans (16) making the trip to Manchester. “It’s something, an occasion, where these things can happen, opportunities for young players,” the Dutch manager remarked.
United’s recent transfer activities have seen Marcus Rashford and Tyrell Malacia depart on loan to Aston Villa and PSV Eindhoven respectively, further altering Amorim’s options for the cup tie.
As both teams finalise their preparations, the stage is set for an intriguing battle at the Theatre of Dreams. United, looking to defend their FA Cup title, will need to overcome their recent poor home form, having lost five of their last seven games at Old Trafford across all competitions.
For Amorim, this match presents an opportunity to rejuvenate his side’s season and potentially unearth new talents in the face of adversity. As the Portuguese tactician navigates through this challenging period, the FA Cup could provide a much-needed boost for the Red Devils in what has been a turbulent campaign.
