An intriguing journey to Stamford Bridge awaits Manchester United on Thursday evening, as the Red Devils face another faltering giant in Chelsea in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag's men were on the brink of victory against Brentford on Saturday evening thanks to Mason Mount's strike, only for Kristoffer Ajer to register even deeper into injury time in a frenzied 1-1 draw.
Three points would have been highly undeserved for the Red Devils, though, and they remain sixth in the table on account of that draw, eight points behind Tottenham Hotspur and 11 adrift of the top four.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with the Blues, who also gleaned a point at the weekend in their 2-2 stalemate with Burnley.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Calf
Possible return date: May 4 (vs. Crystal Palace)
After recovering from a knee problem, Lisandro Martinez made his first appearance since early February against Brentford, but Man United have now revealed that the luckless Argentine has picked up a calf strain and will be out for at least a month.
© Reuters
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Unspecified
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Chelsea)
One of two new defensive concerns for Ten Hag to contend with, Raphael Varane was taken off at half time in the draw with Brentford, being replaced by the fit-again Harry Maguire. The Man United boss revealed after the game that there was a precautionary element to the change, though, and Varane is set to be involved this week.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: May 4 (vs. Crystal Palace)
Midway through the second half of Saturday's contest, Victor Lindelof also succumbed to a hamstring issue and had to be withdrawn, which will keep him on the sidelines for the next few weeks alongside Martinez.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Seldom-seen left-back Tyrell Malacia will be spending a while recovering from his serious knee injury, as Ten Hag has conceded that it will be "difficult" for the Dutchman to play again before the season is over.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Groin
Possible return date: April 21 (vs. Coventry City)
Back in January, long-serving striker Anthony Martial was ruled out for 10 weeks due to groin surgery, but provided he suffers no setbacks in his recovery, he could be on track to return for the FA Cup semi-final showdown with Coventry City later this month.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: Unknown
Before the draw with Brentford, Ten Hag expressed confidence that thigh victim Luke Shaw would return to the first-team picture before the end of the season, but he still has weeks of rehabilitation ahead of him.
© Reuters
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Chelsea)
A question mark is hovering over the head of Altay Bayindir for this game as he battles back from a muscular strain, but the Turkey international would only be warming the bench at Stamford Bridge anyway.
© Reuters
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: April 4 (vs. Chelsea)
Fellow muscular victim Jonny Evans was also unavailable for the Brentford contest over the weekend, but he is back in training alongside Varane and should be fine to feature.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUSPENSION LIST
Amad Diallo is back from his one-game ban after seeing red against Liverpool in the FA Cup, meaning that Man United have no players suspended for this contest.
Ben Knapton
