Manchester United have been offered some respite on the injury front, with Manchester Evening News reporting that Jonny Evans has passed a fitness test ahead of the weekend trip to Sheffield United.
The 35-year-old handed Man United a huge scare after he was seen limping in the latter stages of Northern Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Slovakia on Tuesday night.
The Northern Ireland captain had already received treatment in the first half, but the good news for Man United is that he saw out the match without needing to be hurled off the pitch.
Evans now faces a race to be fit in time for Man United’s trip to Bramall Lane on Saturday, but he is in contention to make Erik ten Hag’s travelling squad.
Man United have been plagued with injury problems this season, especially in defensive areas, with Ten Hag’s first-choice rearguard sidelined until further notice.
Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw have not started a match together since the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the season.
Sergio Reguilon, who was brought in as a temporary replacement for the injured Shaw, has also been sidelined, while Tyrell Malacia has also spent a significant period in the treatment room.
Victor Lindelof was deployed at left back in the dramatic 2-1 victory over Brentford before the international break and is likely to start the match against the Blades in the same position.
Harry Maguire and Evans held down the fort at the heart of the defence, with Diogo Dalot slotting in at his accustomed right back.
Evans’ potential absence will only cause more headaches for the already beleaguered Ten Hag, who may have to deploy Sofyan Amrabat as cover for the significantly depleted backline.
Man United will hope it doesn’t come to that. Although Evans is expected to be fit enough to face the newly promoted side, he still needs to be assessed ahead of the trip.
