Leny Yoro moves a step closer to Manchester United return after important update in recovery

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro is walking without crutches as he steps up his rehabilitation from a foot injury.

Yoro fractured his metatarsal in the first half of the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles, which was the opening fixture of United’s pre-season tour in the United States.

The 18-year-old underwent surgery at the beginning of August to address the problem and November was earmarked for his return. Yoro was unveiled to Old Trafford before the Fulham game and was using crutches but his recovery is progressing and they are no longer needed.

That represents a positive step in his return to action and Yoro has been in the gym at Carrington as he works with United’s physio team to prepare him to return to full fitness.

Yoro was one of five first-team signings for United this summer and demonstrated his quality in just his first appearance for the club in a friendly against Rangers in July.

The defender only had one training session under his belt when he played that game and it was impressive to see him perform with teammates he’d only known for a few days.

Although Yoro’s injury has been considered a huge blow, club sources are viewing his lay-off as an opportunity for him to settle into life in Manchester and familiarise himself with his new surroundings, an approach Sir Alex Ferguson would take with new signings who picked up injuries.

United believe Yoro can develop into one of the best defenders in the world and his signing from Lille in a deal that could rise to €70million was seen as a coup.

Ten Hag said on Yoro’s injury: “That’s part of football, that’s part of top football especially, that you come into, you go to the edge, every player has to go to the edge.

“And yeah, then injuries are not avoidable. But of course, we have to be ready as a club and as a team to cover this and the players are dealing very well with this setback. They (Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund) are very positive, they are already recovering and they will return.”

Manchester United receives double injury boost that could change season ahead of Southampton match

“We have to see how it develops and how we can progress during the break, to get match fit,” said Erik ten Hag about Rasmus Hojlund before Manchester United’s last game.

“He returned on the pitch but it will take a while before he is up. Everyone has seen, it [the injury] happens in the first game [pre-season tour], so he needs also to build some fitness.”

Around 30 minutes after Ten Hag’s press conference, Hojlund drove out of Carrington, wearing shaded sunglasses in his Range Rover, and stopped for autographs and photos. “I pulled my hamstring but I’m okay now,” said Hojlund when a small child who was wearing a United replica with his name and number asked why he hadn’t played this season.

Hojlund has returned to training on the grass at Carrington, which usually indicates a return to full training is around two weeks away and that is excellent news for United, who have sorely missed his presence in attack in the opening few games of the new Premier League season.

Bruno Fernandes has been used as a false nine and Joshua Zirkzee started down the middle against Liverpool but Hojlund is a natural centre-forward and is more effective in that role. What he brings to the team, being able to stretch a defence with his pace and getting in behind the opposition, is unique and the injury he sustained in pre-season was unfortunate.

Hojlund tweaked his hamstring after opening the scoring against Arsenal in Los Angeles and his goal was the type nobody else in the United squad could produce – he used his body brilliantly, shielded the ball with his strength and used his acceleration to evade his marker.

The 21-year-old is built in the mould of a traditional striker and if his finishing has improved for this season, he has the ability to significantly better his haul of 16 goals last term. Hojlund’s return will be a huge boost and he is expected to be available against Southampton when football resumes after the international break. United are guaranteed to create chances against the relegation candidates and Hojlund could mark his return with a bang.

Whether Luke Shaw returns to the squad alongside Hojlund at St Mary’s remains to be seen. The defender hasn’t played for United this season, despite playing for England at Euro 2024, and Ten Hag didn’t give an update on his situation at his latest press conference.

United said on August 13 that Shaw would miss the opening games of the Premier League season due to a calf injury sustained at the start of pre-season training.

The clash against Southampton comes on September 14 and four weeks should be enough time to recover from a calf strain, providing it’s not serious. That teases the possibility of Shaw and Hojlund making the XI on the south coast.

United have scraped past Fulham, defeated by Brighton and hammered by Liverpool, which has made the Southampton game an early season must-win encounter with the following three matches challenging. Crystal Palace away, Tottenham at home and Aston Villa away await and United must get back to winning ways to ease pressure on Ten Hag.

The chances of breezing past Southampton with minimal fuss will increase if Hojlund and Shaw are back from the sidelines. They are two hugely important players in how Ten Hag wants to play and the latter’s passing qualities are particularly important for building up from the back.

Ten Hag will give a fresh update on Hojlund and Shaw at his press conference on Thursday and fans will be desperately hoping he confirms their return to action against Southampton. It’s also imperative that when they return to fitness, they maintain a clean bill of health.

He will have to leave the club now or ….Manchester United star player transfer hint dropped as ‘medical’ booked ahead of move

Galatasaray could move for Casemiro from Manchester United after midfielder Sergio Oliveira was undergoing ‘medical tests’ at Olympiacos.

Casemiro is being linked with a departure from United having suffered a dramatic dip in form since his impressive debut campaign when arriving from Real Madrid in August 2022.

The midfielder was hauled off at half-time during United’s 3-0 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday after struggling in the first 45 minutes, making mistakes which led to two goals.

It is now claimed that Galatasaray are interested in signing Casemiro before Turkey’s summer transfer window closes on Friday, September 13. The Times have reported that Galatasaray have shortlisted Casemiro in their search for a midfielder.

Galatasaray have already made a major statement by signing Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli and could go for Casemiro as part of a similar approach. They have also signed Gabriel Sara, Elias Jelert, Ismail Jakobs, Hakim Ziyech and Michy Batshuayi during what has been a busy summer transfer window.

As for those going out of the door, Galatasaray have offloaded a number of players, including ex-Leicester winger Tete, Wilfried Zaha and Nicolo Zaniolo. Now another that could be set to leave the Turkish club is midfileder Oliveira, who is destined to make the switch to Olympiacos.

The departure of Oliveira, who has not featured so far this season, could help trigger room in the squad for Casemiro to join the club from United. Oliveira made 24 appearances for Gala last term, scoring twice. In total, he has played 58 times for the club since joining two years ago.

Casemiro could see his game time reduced following the deadline day arrival of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. Ugarte was not registered in time to face Liverpool but could make his debut against Southampton after the international break.

“We have to build him in the team, it will take time,” Ten Hag explained. “It is not like I’m Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge.

“If you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season, not one match minute. We have to build his fitness, we will have to build him into the team, and then I am sure he will be an important player.”