Erik Ten Hag confirms availability of defensive trio ahead of Barnsley

Erik Ten Hag confirms availability of defensive trio ahead of Barnsley

Eric Munene 12:00 - 17.09.2024

Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund will be unavailable until the return of the Premier League games over the weekend

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has delivered a positive update ahead of Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round fixture against League One side Barnsley.

The Dutchman confirmed that several key players who were recent injury concerns will be available for selection, providing a significant boost to his squad.

Ten Hag's defensive options will be bolstered as Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, and Matthijs de Ligt have all been cleared to play.

The trio were forced off during United’s 3-0 victory over Southampton, raising concerns about their availability.

However, Ten Hag reassured fans in his press conference that “they are all available, they are good.”

Despite this positive news, United will still be missing several players. Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, and Victor Lindelof are continuing their recoveries from injuries and are not expected to feature against Barnsley.

Ten Hag suggested that their potential return could be imminent, stating, “We will see how the progress will continue,” ahead of the upcoming league trip to Crystal Palace.

Luke Shaw will also be absent due to a calf issue, with Ten Hag noting that while Shaw is “progressing well,” the exact timeline for his return remains uncertain.

The manager emphasized the unpredictability of rehabilitation, acknowledging that “there are many factors” affecting the recovery process.

New signing Manuel Ugarte could make his first start for United after a brief cameo off the bench against Southampton.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag hinted at potential changes in the line-up, saying, “Players have to earn the right to play” based on their training performances and attitudes.