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Manchester United’s tour of the United States hit problems again this morning as Marcus Rashford was injured while playing in a pre-season match against Real Betis.
The injury jinx that decimated the Red Devils last season seems to be in full force once again, with the news breaking late last night that new signing Leny Yoro has been ruled out for three months with a fractured metatarsal and Rasmus Hojlund will miss the first six weeks of the new season with a hamstring problem.
Both of their injuries were sustained in the tour match against Arsenal in Los Angeles.
Now United are sweating on Rashford, who had been showing glimpses of a return to the excellent form of the 2022/23 season.
As United dominated their Spanish opponents in the opening hour of this morning’s match, Rashford was felled in the area. To literally add insult to injury, he was denied a penalty for the stamp on the foot that saw him banging his hand on the pitch in pain.
He was later filmed leaving the stadium limping.
Marcus Rashford leaving the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. He was forced off in second half of United’s 3-2 win over Real Betis after having a foot stamped on #MUFC pic.twitter.com/8kxeJkcRse
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) August 1, 2024
The ray of hope for United fans was that he was not wearing a protective boot, so it is possible that his foot is just badly bruised.
This morning’s second half substitute Antony also left the pitch after just a few minutes. It was unclear what his injury was. He was not limping when he left the pitch, but looked upset as he unravelled the bandage he had been wearing on his wrist and threw it to the ground.
He was also filmed limping when leaving the stadium.
And Antony #mufc pic.twitter.com/TD6OAukV1b
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 1, 2024
Fortunately for United, there is plenty of cover in the wing positions, with the excellent Amad Diallo, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho all at Erik ten Hag’s disposal.
Mason Mount can also play as a winger.
United have one more tour match to play, against Liverpool at half past midnight UK time on Sunday morning. That match takes place in Columbia, South Carolina.
Ten Hag will be desperate to avoid any more injuries before he takes his side back to England to prepare for the Community Shield match against Man City a week on Saturday.
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