Team news: Manchester United receive two injury updates ahead of Wigan clash

Manchester United are looking ahead to 2024 as they face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup for their first game of the calendar year.

The second half of 2023 brought Erik ten Hag one of the worst injury crises a Premier League club has seen, with 18 players either suspended, injured, or otherwise unavailable during the first five months of the 2023/24 campaign at Manchester United.

Thankfully, though, the squad are on the mend, with multiple players back in training over the last few weeks ahead of the FA Cup clash against Wigan Athletic.

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An ever-present at Manchester United this season has been André Onana, who is the only player to have played every single minute of the season so far. Although there have been doubts about his availability for Monday due to AFCON, the club confirmed that he will be able to face Wigan Athletic.

In defence, the much-welcomed sight of Lisandro Martínez returning to training at the beginning of the month graced Carrington, with the player having undergone rehabilitation on two foot surgeries.

Harry Maguire remains injured after suffering a groin problem in December against Bayern Munich, and Victor Lindelöf is also recovering from a small surgery himself. The availability of Luke Shaw is unknown after missing United’s last two games, but with his injury not expected to be too serious, he may re-join the squad against Wigan.

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Erik ten Hag confirmed recently that he expects the squad against Wigan to be pretty much the same as that against Nottingham Forest, meaning Raphaël Varane, Jonny Evans, and Willy Kambwala should all be available, while Martínez will continue to train back to full fitness.

Casemiro also returned to training in the last week after a long-term hamstring problem, but much like Martínez, he is not expected to be in the squad to face Wigan. Christian Eriksen is back to full fitness, but there is no further news on Mason Mount beyond his return to training towards the end of December. The same goes for Sofyan Amrabat.

Amad Diallo was in action after five months out as he played 35 minutes against Forest, and is in contention to start against Wigan as Ten Hag looks to freshen up his attack.

Rasmus Højlund, who was not present for the Forest defeat due to illness, is back in full training and is expected to start against Wigan.

Anthony Martial has missed United’s last four Premier League games due to illness, while Sergio Reguilón recently returned to Tottenham Hotspur after his loan deal ended early.

For Wigan, they will be missing both Tom Pearce (left-back) and Jason Kerr (centre-back), while Stephen Humphrys (striker) and Scott Smith (midfielder) are also doubts.