Manchester United are set to be sweating over the fitness of midfield duo Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay for Saturday's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils will reunite with Roy Hodgson's side just four days after locking horns with the Eagles in the third round of the EFL Cup, where Erik ten Hag's men advanced with a resounding 3-0 success.
Alejandro Garnacho's deflected strike broke the deadlock for the holders in the 21st minute, before Casemiro found the far corner with a smart header from Mason Mount's corner six minutes later.
The Brazilian midfielder then went from scorer to assister early in the second half, picking out Anthony Martial with a cross to the back post, and the Frenchman emphatically finished across goal into the side of the net.
Owing to the unrelenting fixture schedule and double-figure list of absentees, Ten Hag unsurprisingly offered minutes to several fringe players at Old Trafford, including Hannibal Mejbri, Donny van de Beek, Facundo Pellistri and senior debutant Daniel Gore.
© Reuters
Mount also made his first start in over a month after recovering from a thigh injury, and the ex-Chelsea man was taken off at half time in what Ten Hag confirmed was a pre-planned switch.
However, the Red Devils suffered another untimely double blow before the match, as both McTominay and Eriksen were ruled out through illness, having seemingly fallen victim to the same bug which claimed left-back Sergio Reguilon.
The Manchester Evening News reports that both men were present for training on Tuesday, but as things stand, it is unclear whether either of them will be fit to face Palace at the weekend.
While McTominay would not have expected to force his way into the first XI for the Premier League fixture, Eriksen's possible absence could give Ten Hag more of a selection headache, but the Dutchman does have a fit-again Sofyan Amrabat at his disposal.
The Moroccan midfielder completed 61 minutes of the 3-0 win over Palace on Tuesday, starting out in an unfamiliar left-back role on his full debut for the Red Devils owing to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia's injuries, as well as Reguilon's illness.
© Reuters
A first Premier League start could therefore come the way of the Fiorentina loanee on Saturday, where Shaw and Malacia will represent two definite absentees, alongside fellow full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Midfield starlet Kobbie Mainoo is also a few weeks away from returning from an ankle injury, while Amad Diallo will not play until the second half of the campaign due to his knee issue.
Lisandro Martinez will need a once-over after sitting out the cup triumph with a foot injury, but Harry Maguire was able to complete the full 90 minutes following his recovery from an issue of his own.
Alongside their injured troupe, Jadon Sancho remains exiled from the group after his public criticism of Ten Hag, who has allegedly banished him from all first-team facilities until he issues a public and private apology.
Finally, Antony recently took leave to face allegations of domestic abuse from multiple women, which the Brazilian winger has vehemently denied, and he was spotted travelling back to England from Sao Paulo earlier this week.
No Data Analysis info
