Chelsea have been hit with a 12-week injury blow ahead of travelling to face Manchester United at Old Trafford later in September.
Manchester United’s run of upcoming Premier League games is not easy on the eye, with Rúben Amorim’s men set to be thoroughly tested as domestic English action returns following the international break.
Having collected four points of a possible nine across their opening three Premier League ties, United are returning to duty by facing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
They will then return to the Red corner of Manchester as they welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford six days later, before heading down to London to face Bryan Mbeumo’s former club, Brentford.
United round off their next month of fixtures with a home tie against Sunderland, and after the October international break, they will travel to face current title favourites Liverpool at Anfield.
Chelsea hit with Essugo injury blow
While all eyes are currently set on the upcoming Manchester derby, United will be keeping an eye on the happenings at Stamford Bridge.
One significant piece of injury news that Chelsea have been hit with is that new £18.5 million recruit Dario Essugo from Sporting CP has undergone surgery on his thigh, and will miss the United clash.
The 20-year-old picked up an injury while training with Portugal’s U21s squad last week, and Chelsea then confirmed that the midfielder had undergone a successful operation.
“Midfielder Dario Essugo has undergone successful surgery today on his thigh,” a club statement read. “The 20-year-old sustained the injury whilst on international duty for Portugal’s Under-21s.
“Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action and Dario will now begin his recovery at Cobham, supported by the club’s medical department.”
Further, The Athletic have now reported that Chelsea fear the player, who has been part of Chelsea’s squad for all three Premier League ties so far, will not feature for up to 12 weeks and return in 2026.
An immediate Old Trafford return for Garnacho
While Essugo will not be travelling to Old Trafford, one Chelsea player who will do so is former United winger, Alejandro Garnacho.
After sealing a move to Chelsea during the final days of the 2025 summer transfer window for a £40 million fee, Garnacho is facing an immediate return to Old Trafford, possibly for his debut for the Blues.
Garnacho will likely be in their squad this weekend, but given that his fitness levels are not quite up to scratch, having missed pre-season, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca may choose to hold off handing him his debut until next week.
The Argentina international played 144 times for United across three seasons, having climbed through the Academy ranks, scoring 26 goals and providing 22 assists.
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