A report by the Athletic has provided an injury update on Manchester United defender Raphael Varane.
Varane has been out injured since the 2-2 draw with Atalanta on 2 November. It was the second injury he has suffered since his arrival.
But United are apparently expecting Varane to be back fit for the away clash with Brentford on December 14.
He may even be able to be involved from the bench against Norwich three days earlier if things go well. That said, perhaps part of the current problem is that United rushed him back from the injury he suffered in France’s Nations League final win.
Varane has not been pictured back training yet, but Michael Carrick said earlier this week that he is back on the grass.
He said: “Yeah, Rapha’s rehab is going really well. “He’s out on the grass but it won’t be any time this week, by any stretch, it’ll be a little bit further than that, if not even longer. He’s on course [though], which is good.”
The arrival of Ralf Rangnick is also a consideration in terms of Varane’s return.
The German will want a player of Varane’s quality available as soon as possible. But he also looks set to introduce a high-pressing game to Old Trafford.
That will increase the risk of muscle injuries and means that Varane has to be managed carefully and not rushed back.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was prone to rushing players back into action without giving them enough time to get fully fit again.
Whether Rangnick deviates from that approach remains to be seen but United do not want Varane to suffer another setback.
If he can get back fit for the Brentford game, it would give United a big boost going into the frantic period of festive fixtures.
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