Manchester United hope to have five players back from injury for the FA Cup final

Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United’s injured players are doing everything possible to regain fitness in time for the FA Cup final.

United currently have ten players ruled out through injury, but Lisandro Martinez is set to return on Wednesday night after picking up a calf strain against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford could also be back, although Rashford would prefer to return for the final game of the season away to Brighton on Sunday.

Ten Hag have confirmed that Raphael Varane, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, is set to play for the first time since April 4 at Brighton.

Former United captain Wayne Rooney said on Sunday that some of the injured players are fit enough to play, but “it’s easy for players to stay a little bit away from it and then come back in the final and be fit for the European Championship “. .

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Ten Hag has assured United fans that at least five players are pushing to return before the end of the season.

“You have to see here at Carrington, the players are desperate to play,” Ten Hag pointed out. “I see Licha Martinez, I see Bruno who did a fitness test on Sunday to play. Rashford did everything he could, he trained and tried to train last week but he didn’t make it.

“So the players are desperate to play. They want to be in the right shape. You also see Victor Lindelof, Rapha Varane – they are training to make themselves available for the final. You do what you can do.”

Tyrell Malacia (knee) is out for the season and Luke Shaw (hamstring) is unlikely to feature for United in the next three games. Mason Mount picked up an unspecified injury and missed the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, while Harry Maguire could also struggle to regain fitness in time for the FA Cup final.

Anthony Martial is not expected to play again for United as he is six weeks behind schedule in his return from groin surgery.