Manchester United have been dealt a major defensive blow ahead of Saturday's Premier League derby with Manchester City.
The Red Devils lost Raphael Varane to a hamstring problem during their Champions League draw with Atalanta BC on Tuesday, and the centre-back has now been ruled out for the next month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also without the suspended Paul Pogba, while Victor Lindelof remains a slight doubt with a knock but is thought to have a good chance of making the cut this weekend.
Lindelof's return to fitness would allow the Red Devils to line up with a back three once more, with Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly - who performed valiantly in midweek - both handed starts.
Pogba may not have been in contention to start here either way given his lacklustre showing in midweek, with Fred and Scott McTominay likely to form the midfield pairing at Old Trafford.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are set to continue in the wing-back areas, unless the latter is needed to fill in as an emergency centre-back should Lindelof not make the cut.
Marcus Rashford ought to drop out to accommodate the return of Edinson Cavani, while Cristiano Ronaldo goes in search of his fourth goal from his last six Manchester derbies.
Man United possible starting lineup: De Gea; Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Shaw; Fernandes; Ronaldo, Cavani
> Click here to see how Man City could line up for the derby
Ben Knapton
