Manchester United receive defensive boost ahead of Brighton fixture

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Shaun Connolly

Defensive duo returns to Manchester United fist-team training session

Erik ten Hag received a welcome defensive boost with the inclusion of Victor Lindelof and the departing Raphael Varane in Friday’s session at Carrington. 

Pictured alongside their Manchester United teammates on the club’s official website, the defensive duo appeared in good spirits while going through the motions. 

Varane has not featured since early April with a muscle injury, while Lindelof has been unavailable since injuring his hamstring during March’s 1-1 draw with Brentford. 

Defensive woes

Ten Hag has had to select 14 different central defensive partnerships throughout a season that has returned unmanageable sums of injuries.

Most recently, the pairing of 36-year-old Jonny Evans and 32-year-old central midfielder Casemiro has supplied the defensive cover for André Onana, playing each of the last three Premier League fixtures. 

United have conceded seven goals during this period, with a certain inevitability before a ball was kicked in each fixture. 

Fresh hope ahead of the season’s end 

Varane and Lindelof join Lisandro Martinez as potential options ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton, with the Argentine making his long-awaited return in a 15-minute cameo against Newcastle. 

At the other end of the field, Marcus Rashford returned to first-team duty at Old Trafford on Wednesday, supplying additional fire-power for Ten Hag and co. 

Additionally, outgoing forward Anthony Martial was pictured in today’s session at Carrington, with the possibility of one final moment to savour as a Red. The Frenchman has not featured since pulling up in a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth in December. 

Can Manchester United do the unthinkable and field to central defenders against the Seagulls on Sunday’s final Premier League fixture of the season? Let us know your predictions below. 

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