- Manchester United have been dealt an injury blow before their FA Cup semi-final
- Harry Maguire is Erik ten Hag’s only fit senior centre back for the Wembley clash
- If Erik ten Hag wins the FA Cup with Man United, does he deserve to keep his job? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Manchester United’s injury nightmare took another turn for the worse on the eve of their FA Cup semi-final against Coventry with three more players ruled out.
Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat and Willy Kambwala will all miss the showdown at Wembley, leaving Erik ten Hag’s threadbare squad severely depleted.
United have now been hit with over 60 separate cases of injury or illness this season and Harry Maguire is currently the club’s only fit senior centre back.
Kambwala, who has stepped up into the first-team in recent weeks, as well as Mount and Amrabat were all absent as United boarded their train down to London.
The absence of the young defender may force Ten Hag to deploy Casemiro alongside Maguire, where he played against Burnley in the Carabao Cup last year.
Mason Mount has been ruled out of Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final showdown
![Harry Maguire is United's only fit senior centre back for the clash against Coventry City](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/20/19/83891769-13331629-image-a-55_1713636371599.jpg)
Harry Maguire is United’s only fit senior centre back for the clash against Coventry City
![Erik ten Hag has been hit with over 60 separate cases of injury or illness so far this season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/20/19/83891773-13331629-image-a-56_1713636374676.jpg)
Erik ten Hag has been hit with over 60 separate cases of injury or illness so far this season
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Earlier in the week, there were also question marks over the fitness of Maguire, who did not train until Friday after United’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Manager Ten Hag is already without six senior defenders, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia ruled out.
‘We have some problems. Harry, okay against Bournemouth, he struggled,’ Ten Hag said. ‘He had a small injury and he didn’t train this week so far but now he is back on the pitch. We expect him today to be back in team training.
‘He will be available I hope, for Sunday.’
Teenagers Louis Jackson, Harry Amass, Habeeb Ogunneye and Ethan Wheatley are set to make the squad, though none have made their first-team debuts.
United will be determined to avoid an upset against their Championship opponents and Ten Hag has warned his players must perform at their very best.
![Casemiro may be forced to play alongside Maguire as an emergency centre half option](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/20/19/83891787-13331629-image-a-57_1713636450241.jpg)
Casemiro may be forced to play alongside Maguire as an emergency centre half option
![Young defender Willy Kambwala will also miss out at Wembley after suffering an injury issue](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/20/19/83891793-13331629-image-a-58_1713636453948.jpg)
Young defender Willy Kambwala will also miss out at Wembley after suffering an injury issue
He added: ‘We did our job, we are prepared and we know their team, how they play, the individual abilities of the players and we know the manager, he’s doing a fantastic job over there so we know a lot about them.
‘Of course they are dangerous. They are in the semi-final, then it’s logical.
‘Last season they were not that far away from promotion to the Premier League, so they do a fantastic job over there. We have seen the game against Wolves in the quarter-final, the mentality is fabulous. We have to play to our best levels.’
Sir Dave Brailsford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man, was spotted with the squad at Stockport Station. Deputy football director Andy O’Boyle also travelled to the capital.
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