Sport

Manchester United dealt a double injury blow ahead of the new Premier League season

Déjà vu.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 1st August 2024

Manchester United have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the upcoming Premier League season as striker Rasmus Højlund and new signing Leny Yoro are set to miss the start of the campaign, with the latter expected to be out for significantly longer.

The Red Devils had an injury-littered 2023/24 across various parts of the pitch but particularly in their defensive ranks, so recently signed defender Yoro finding himself already sidelined will come as tiresome news to United fans.

Worse still, with Raphaël Varane and Willy Kambawala both having left the club this summer, Erik ten Hag has even fewer central defenders at his disposal and will likely have to call on the likes of Jonny Evans again to fill in for more games than initially planned.

Yoro, 18, came off against Arsenal in Man United’s opening game of the pre-season tour in the US last week with a foot injury and it has now been revealed he will be out for up to three months.

Having suffered a similarly big setback with Lisandro Martinez also suffering a long-term injury last season, it does feel a bit like déjà vu.

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As for 21-year-old Højlund, who has now claimed the number nine shirt after a decent debut season with the club, he was also hooked off just minutes into the game against the Gunners.

While it was evident that the Danish striker had pulled up on his hamstring, it was unclear as to how serious the injury was, but indications now show that he is due to be out for approximately six weeks – another significant setback for the 23/24 FA Cup winners whose league finish was their worst ever.

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Although losing their main striker before the season has already begun is far from ideal, United do at least have a healthier selection of attacking players including new forward Joshua Zirkzee and the return of Jadon Sancho, whose beef with the manager appears to have been put to bed.

Sancho looks to be in the Dutchman’s plans once again after rediscovering some form back on loan at Borussia Dortmund and looking bright in pre-season thus far, nearly scoring in their 3-2 victory over La Liga side Real Betis in the early hours on Thursday morning before it was ruled out for offside.

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It was the Reds’ first win of the US tour and Amad Diallo is also looking like he might break into the first-team as a more regular starter and help lighten the load in Højlund’s absence, netting a second impressive strike against the Spanish club after also bagging in a recent friendly against Rangers.

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Nevertheless, the news of Højlund’s hamstring problems and Yoro’s fractured metatarsal is the last thing they and the fans will want to hear just over a fortnight away from the new season getting underway.

It remains to be seen whether Man United will do any more business in the transfer window, especially now the double injury blow they are without two presumably key players in ten Hag’s first-choice squad.

They were linked with a new midfield signing last month and have reportedly even ‘agreed terms’ but there have been very few updates on whether the deal has progressed any further.

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Featured Images — MUTV (via Screenshot)/Manchester United (via Instagram)

Sport

Tragedy as two superbike riders die in ‘catastrophic accident’ at Cheshire event

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tragedy as two riders die in 'catastrophic accident' at Cheshire superbike event

Two riders have tragically died in a ‘chain reaction’ accident at a superbike race in Cheshire.

Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, both died of their injuries following a crash involving 11 riders.

The ‘catastrophic accident’ occurred yesterday at the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship superbike race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

The race was immediately stopped so that trackside medical services could attend to the 11 riders who had fallen.

Due to the ‘extreme severity’ of the incident, the rest of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled.

Two riders lost their lives and another has sustained significant injuries and remains in hospital.

Owen Jenner, 21 years old, was treated trackside and taken to the circuit medical centre , but died from a catastrophic head injury.

Meanwhile Shane Richardson was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with severe chest injuries, but died prior to arrival.

Another rider, 47-year-old Tom Tunstall, has also been transferred to hospital with significant back and abdominal injuries.

Five further riders were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries – the remaining involved riders were uninjured.

The Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board and MotorSport Vision Racing are investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the Coroner and Cheshire Constabulary.

Cheshire Police said in a statement: “Police are investigating two deaths on behalf of the coroner following a multiple collision at Oulton Park this afternoon (Monday 5 May).

“Emergency services were called to the scene following the collision which resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another with serious injuries.

“Due to the severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the event was cancelled.

“The two riders who sadly died have been named as Owen Jenner (21) and Shane Richardson (29).”

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Featured image: British Superbikes

Sport

Ole Gunnar Solskjær says just three players have spoken to him since leaving Manchester United

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only 3 Man United players have spoke to him since leaving

Club legend and ex-Manchester United player turned manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has revealed that just three of his former players have been in touch since leaving Old Trafford.

Solskjær was sacked from the role as Man United head coach back in November 2021 after having been given the job permanently following an impressive winning run as interim manager.

The practically perfect start back at the helm of the club – where he starred as the ‘super sub’ during his playing days – was followed by a big slump, and the final decision was ultimately made in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Watford.

However, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’s’ popularity among the players and the fans alike was never in question, so it’s come as somewhat of a surprise to many fans that Solskjær has said only a specific trio of United players have got in touch with him since his dream job came to an end.

At least two of the names read out might not surprise fans, as not only was then-club captain Harry Maguire one of his first statement signings, but so was Bruno Fernandes, who now has the armband, and both have remained key players and leadership figures pretty much ever since.

Speaking to BBC Sport on the senior duo, Ole said, “For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter”, and never had any doubts about him deputising for him on the pitch, before going on to label both the centre-back and Bruno as “top human beings.”

As for the third, although Victor Lindelöf looks set to leave the club this summer, he’s actually been a long-serving squad member, having joined back in 2017 and been a seemingly popular figure around the dressing room, even if injury problems have sometimes hampered his minutes.

He also went on to discuss other matters regarding the club, including confessing that it’s “hard to watch” United amidst their present struggles, both under previous manager Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim – even with a potential Europa League trophy consolation on the cards.

The retired striker also stated that he found the decision to let midfielder Scott McTominay go more than surprising, especially given the incredible performances he’s put on display since moving to Serie A.

Now the boss at Besiktas, the 52-year-old has won 50% of his games so far, with the Turkish side on course for a third-place finish.

For context, he only took the job back in January.

What did you make of Ole’s revelations then, Reds? And, more importantly, how do you look back on his time in charge at the Theatre of Dreams?

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Featured Images — soccer.ru (via Wikimedia Commons)/BBC Sport

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