Raphael Varane has been ruled out of Manchester United’s games against Manchester City, Watford, Villarreal, Chelsea and Arsenal after suffering a hamstring injury against Atalanta
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Atalanta 2-2 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer review
Raphael Varane will miss Saturday’s Manchester derby and could be out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Varane, who had only just returned from injury, suffered a hamstring strain in Manchester United’s 2-2 Champions League draw away to Atalanta on Tuesday.
Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters after the game: “Varane felt his hamstring and you cant take any risks. “He’s been such a calming influence for us and its a shame.”
The loss of the France World Cup winner is a huge blow to United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of this weekend’s showdown with local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
With United skipper and central defender Harry Maguire worryingly out of form, Solskjaer can ill-afford to lose a player of Varane’s stature ahead of the visit of Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions.
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United legend Paul Scholes admitted he was worried about the City fixture after Varane was forced to withdraw against Atalanta.
Scholes told BT Sport: “As soon as Varane went of, they went all over the place – really shaky. Quality in the middle of the pitch wasn’t great, giving the ball away… with no Varane, Saturday has to be a worry.”
As well as the City game, Varane is set to miss Premier League fixtures against Watford, Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as United’s crunch Champions League group game away to Villarreal on November 23.
But while United have been left reeling from the loss of Varane, so soon after getting him back from a different injury issue, they may welcome back Victor Lindelof to the defence for the City game.
Lindelof, who missed the Atalanta game through injury, is understood to be winning his battle to be fit to face City, with Solskjaer also having the option of Eric Bailly, who was outstanding against Atalanta in only his second appearance of the season.
Discussing Bailly’s performance, Luke Shaw said: “He was unbelievable. He hasn’t had many chances and, of course, it’s tough.
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“It’s not easy for someone to not play for that long and come into a game especially like this, the way they press, at their home place, a very difficult game. But he was incredible.
“A big well done to him for the way he’s been over the last few months, he’s trained well, trained hard and patiently waited for his chance and I think he took it tonight really well.
“I think that’s the level now for him he needs to show day in, day out and, of course, in the next game.”