Raphael Varane, a Manchester United defender, is expected to miss yet another game this season after missing three of his team’s last five games due to a groin injury incurred while playing for France.
Last Saturday, the 28-year-old returned to the side and put in an excellent performance against Tottenham, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be without his star defender for the time being.
Varane’s recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta is expected to take 3-4 weeks, according to French daily L’Equipe, via Sport Witness.
Although the news may come as a shock to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he may take solace in the fact that the international break is just around the corner, and he will be able to focus on his rehabilitation over the two-week vacation.
Raphael Varane’s injury and United’s possibilities, according to SN… Varane was at the heart of Solskjaer’s three-at-the-back arrangement against Tottenham last week, and it worked brilliantly, with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire on each side.
Due to Lindelof’s injury, which is not thought to be serious, Eric Bailly was drafted into the makeshift defence for yesterday night’s match against Bergamo. The Ivorian was one of United’s greatest players, but there are doubts about his ability to keep up his good form for a long time. Furthermore, Solskjaer has long been concerned about Bailly’s fitness. Varane’s injury will be devastating ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby, and if Lindelof is out, Solskjaer will almost surely be forced to play with three central defenders. Although Luke Shaw has played as a left-sided centre-back on a few occasions, Solskjaer likes to use Maguire in that position.
