Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Jonny Evans will be unavailable for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Luton Town at Old Trafford.
Amid all the talk and the speculation over Raphael Varane’s future, it appears as if the Frenchman will be offered the opportunity to make amends for that Copenhagen blunder when Rob Edwards’ upwardly-mobile Luton side arrive in the North West tomorrow.
Jonny Evans has joined Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines, leaving Varane and Victor Lindelof as the two options at Ten Hag’s disposal to partner a resurgent Harry Maguire at the heart of an injury-hit Manchester United backline.
Evans limped off early on during Wednesday’s calamitous defeat at Copenhagen. And while the extent of his injury is yet to be confirmed, Luton’s visit comes too soon for the veteran Irishman.
Manchester United host Luton Town
“So we don’t, in this moment, have a full assessment done (on Evans’ fitness),” Ten Hag tells the Manchester Evening News. “We didn’t finish (our assessment). We don’t have the details so far.
“But, for tomorrow, he is out.”
Evans has started each of United’s last four Premier League games, and five of the last six. And, while the continued inclusion of a 35-year-old who signed on a free from relegated Leicester City has raised plenty of eyebrows, it speaks volumes about Evans’ continued excellence that Manchester United can boast an 80 per cent win rate in the top-flight this season with him in Ten Hag’s XI.
Varane, meanwhile, could now be in line for only a second start in eight games this weekend. The former Real Madrid ace has been linked with a move away ahead of the January transfer window amid rumours of another fall-out between Ten Hag and another high-profile member of the United squad, though Fabrizio Romano played down those claims in his Caught Offside column.
A chance for Raphael Varane?
“Raphael Varane has been linked with Saudi clubs,” Romano explains. “But my understanding is that there is nothing ongoing right now. There was interest from the Saudi Pro League during the summer. But it was not even a negotiation as he wanted to stay at Manchester United.
“Despite not playing as much at the moment, I’m not hearing that anything has changed. Of course, in my view, he deserves to play more, but let’s see if that will change soon.
“For now, I’m not aware of any developments with Saudi clubs or any other possible move this January.”
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