Breaking news: Dalot, Heaven, Zirkzee – Manchester United injury news and return dates ahead of Brentford clash
Manchester United made a significant leap towards reaching the Europa League final with a commanding 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final first leg, played on Thursday night in the Basque Country. Bruno Fernandes netted twice, while Casemiro added another to give the Reds a comfortable advantage heading into the return fixture at Old Trafford. Before they can fully shift their attention to sealing their place in the final, the team must now focus on Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
As preparations continue, there are several key injury concerns that manager Ruben Amorim is dealing with. Diogo Dalot has been absent for the past two games due to a calf issue sustained during the loss to Wolves. Amorim confirmed the injury is a result of fatigue from an intense run of fixtures, and the defender is expected to remain sidelined for the time being with no specific return date. Ayden Heaven, who made the bench against Newcastle United on April 13 after missing matches following the March international break, has suffered a minor setback and has not been seen in the squad since. Amorim recently stated that the young player is still not ready for action.
Lisandro Martinez continues his rehabilitation after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February during a defeat to Crystal Palace. Following successful surgery, he is making progress but is ruled out for the remainder of the season, with a return likely around August. Toby Collyer is also recovering from a leg issue and has been seen training individually at Carrington, suggesting he may be available in the coming weeks, although an exact date hasn’t been confirmed. Meanwhile, forward Joshua Zirkzee has been ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a hamstring injury in the 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Despite being able to walk off the pitch, the injury was serious enough to end his campaign, and the focus is now on preparing him for next season.
Although the injury list remains a concern, Manchester United’s convincing performance in Europe has boosted morale. With Brentford up next, the team hopes to maintain momentum both in the league and on the continent as they chase a place in yet another Europa League final.
