Man Utd receive injury boost but three players will still miss Man City derby clash

Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, will be missing Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Matheus Cunha in the upcoming match against Manchester City; however, he may reintegrate Noussair Mazraoui into the starting lineup.

Amorim, aged 40, has faced a challenging beginning to the season but managed to secure a narrow 3-2 win over Burnley prior to the international break. The Portuguese manager is optimistic that this victory will serve as a turning point for his United team, which has faced difficulties against Arsenal, Fulham, and for the majority of the match against the Clarets.

With only one win from their first three Premier League fixtures of the 2025/26 season, United have had a two-week period to prepare for the first Manchester derby of the year. Amorim’s team will be keen to become the third club to defeat City, who have already succumbed to losses against Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham.

The international break came at a fortuitous time for the Red Devils, as several players were recovering from injuries while others have regained their full match fitness. One player that Amorim might choose to start at the Etihad Stadium is Mazraoui.

During both Erik ten Hag’s and Amorim’s tenures, the Moroccan has been a reliable presence for the Reds. The defender made 57 appearances across all competitions before sustaining an injury on the final day against Aston Villa.

After returning in the 3-2 victory over Burnley last month, Mazraoui appears ready to take the field from the outset. In a recent interview with The National, the 27-year-old shared his thoughts on his debut season and the demanding nature of Premier League football.

He said: “On a personal level, my fitness and the amount of games I played, I can look back to a good season. In fitness, the Premier League is always different than the other competitions. No winter break, obviously. The games were following up really fast.

“You hope to stay fit and play as much as possible. That hadn’t always been the case for me.

“The Premier League is a bigger demand than other competitions, so you must take even more of your body. I had a switch in my mindset – be fit and ready and I think that helped me play so many games.”

United approaches the derby with concerns regarding injuries to Cunha and Mount. Both players exited the match against Burnley with injuries, leaving Amorim uncertain about their potential participation.

Following the match, the United manager remarked: “It was difficult to lose a player like Cunha and Mason Mount – Mount played for about 30 minutes while injured. I am unsure [if their injuries are long-term], but I am worried about it. They are crucial for us, so we will have to wait and see.”

On a more positive note, Martinez is nearing a return. The 27-year-old Argentine defender has been sidelined since February due to an ACL injury but is currently training on the pitches at Carrington.

Nevertheless, it will still take some time before the World Cup winner is back in the first team. Amorim has not had the opportunity to utilize the former Ajax defender in the Premier League since February 2nd, when United suffered a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace.

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