Manchester United have been handed an injury boost ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds United.

Manchester United have been handed an injury boost ahead of their return to Premier League action next week. After the international break and FA Cup action, United are back in action next Monday when they host rivals Leeds United.

United were last in action on Friday, 20 March, when they had to settle for a point from a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. That result left United in third place in the Premier League table, one point above Aston Villa in fourth.

The match against Bournemouth also saw Harry Maguire shown a red card, meaning that he will be suspended for the match vs Leeds.

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The extra break has given some members of the United squad extra time to recover from any bumps, bruises or injuries. With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest from the United treatment room.

Patrick Dorgu

Injury: Hamstring

The full-back has missed the last eight Premier League games due to a hamstring injury sustained in the closing stages of the clash against Arsenal. He is now back doing individual work on the grass as he steps up his recovery from the injury.

Potential return date: Vs Liverpool (H), Sunday, 3 May

Bryan Mbeumo

Injury: Knock

The forward was withdrawn in the second half of the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth as a precaution. He then pulled out of the Cameroon squad over the international break.

Potential return date: Vs Leeds (H), Mon, 13 April

Benjamin Sesko

Injury: Knock

Like Mbeumo, Sesko pulled out of international duty over the break. The striker has been dealing with a fitness concern over the last few weeks, but should be able to feature for United against Leeds.

Potential return date: Vs Leeds (H), Mon, 13 April

Lisandro Martinez

Injury: Calf

The centre-back has missed the last five Premier League games due to the injury, but is closing in on a comeback.

What has been said: “[Lisandro is] closer, a lot closer. He’s getting there, so after this one. I think he’ll be alright.”

Potential return date: Vs Leeds (H), Mon, 13 April

Matthijs de Ligt

Injury: Back

The defender has been out of action since November due to a back injury.

What has been said: “He’s obviously trying to work to get back but it’s just the back issue, really, that’s proving difficult. We’ll keep working as hard as we can, to get him back as quickly as we can.”

Potential return date: Unknown

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Benjamin Sesko has been mainly used off the bench by Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick in recent weeks.

Benjamin Sesko’s agent has revealed that he doesn’t ‘like’ the striker being referred to as a ‘super sub’. The Manchester United forward has been a regular off the bench this season, but is now pushing for more starts.

Sesko has scored 10 goals in all competitions for United this season after his £74 million move from RB Leipzig in the summer. Four of those goals have come after he entered the pitch as a second-half substitute, including winners against Fulham and Everton and a late equaliser vs West Ham.

It’s led to the Slovenia international being labelled as a ‘super sub’ for interim manager Michael Carrick. But the player’s agent Elvis Basanovic would rather his client be given another nickname.

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“If you ask me about this name, I don’t like it. I like ‘super striker’ much more,” he told Arena Sport. “I think Benjamin is a super striker.

“He has started 13 games this year, coming off the bench in 13 games. He scored half of his goals when he started the game and half when he came off the bench.

“We can see that he is a complete striker and Benjamin is someone who deserves the name ‘super striker.’”

There have been calls for Sesko to be in the starting line-up more often. However, speaking back in February, the forward hinted that he was quite happy with his current role as he continues to settle into Premier League football.

“We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me,” he said. “They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.”

He added: “I’m getting settled in the league from game to game. Again, I’m not even thinking about ‘I have to start, I have to start.’

“For me it’s just whenever coach decides to put me there one time or not I’m just going to be there.

“If I get the next minutes, five minutes, I’m going to use them and for me it’s just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team.”

Sesko came off the bench to play the final 19 minutes for United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Friday night. It was revealed by the club on Monday that the striker has been managing an injury.

That has led to him pulling out of the Slovenia squad over the international break to aid his recovery. Sesko will hope to be available when United return to action on Monday, 13 April, when they host rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford.

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The March international break is in full swing with several Manchester United players remaining at Carrington over the next two weeks

Manchester United will have several players not on international duty over the next two weeks. As a result, those players will be expected to train at Carrington or work on their respective fitness or injury concerns.

United’s last match before the international break was the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week, a result which leaves the Reds in third place in the Premier League table and one point above fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Michael Carrick and Co. are not back in Premier League action until April 13, when they will host Leeds United at Old Trafford. United do not have a game the weekend of April 4/5 due to not being involved in the FA Cup, with the quarter-finals taking centre stage.

READ MORE: Senne Lammens explains training ground behaviour after leaving Man United with clear opinionREAD MORE: Training camp, friendly decision, momentum – What Manchester United will do with 24-day break

While several members of United’s squad are away with their respective national teams, some players are remaining at Carrington to train at the club’s base to maintain their fitness levels.

Patrick Dorgu is continuing to recover from a hamstring injury which has kept the defender on the sidelines since February. United posted a video on their official website of Dorgu working on his rehabilitation at Carrington.

Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Lisandro Martinez are also sidelined with injuries and will be working on their recovery during the international break.

United also confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo had been withdrawn from the Cameroon squad as a precaution, with the forward being withdrawn in the second half of their draw with Bournemouth last week. Before Mbeumo left the squad, the United player had been expected to feature in the friendly matches against Australia and China.

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Benjamin Sesko also withdrew from the Slovenia squad as he recovers from a minor fitness issue, with United hoping to have both players available after the international break.

Mason Mount and Luke Shaw were both not called up to the England squad for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan, while Tom Heaton is retired from international football.

Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee were not called up by Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands squad for their round of international matches.

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Benjamin Sesko has hit a red-hot run of form in a Manchester United shirt with the ex-RB Leipzig man scoring in each of his last three appearances for the Reds

Wes Brown has hailed Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko and compared him to Reds icon Ruud van Nistelrooy following an impressive start to 2026.

Indeed, Sesko, 22, has scored SEVEN times in nine appearances across all competitions since the turn of the year – a run of form that has seen him earn a place in Michael Carrick’s starting XI.

After scoring late at West Ham and Everton last month, Carrick rewarded Sesko with a rare start for the home game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. And it was a decision that ended up paying off, as the Slovenia international netted for the third straight outing, scoring the winner in a 2-1 success at Old Trafford.

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Sesko manoeuvred half a yard of space inside the box before meeting Bruno Fernandes’ cross and powering a header into the bottom corner, giving Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson no chance.

It was another smart finish from Sesko, who now has nine goals in 25 matches for the Reds since his £74million move from RB Leipzig last summer.

And ex-United defender Brown believes Sesko has the potential to become the club’s long-term No.9.

Brown, was speaking with Bet MGM, told Manchester Evening News: “I think that’s the plan. For me, I’m lucky, I’ve actually interviewed him and he’s such a nice guy. But he’s very determined to do well. He’s even said that he found it a bit hard at the beginning with the pressure.

“But he’s starting to understand the game and the Premier League and the confidence is coming back. I think over the last five or six games, he’s showing that. Yes, a lot of it has been as a substitute. But he was given the opportunity the other day against Crystal Palace and when he got that one chance, or maybe two, he put it away. That’s all you can ask for from a striker.

“But the one thing I will say, he’s a big, strong lad, very athletic. He’s trying to do the best he can off the pitch as well to make himself better. But with strikers, it’s all about scoring and he’s definitely scoring at the moment. He’s a very talented player, he costs a lot of money and he’ll be here for a while. Now it’s all about, can he keep this scoring up?”

Brown then compared Sesko to his former United teammate Van Nistelrooy, who is renowned as one of the club’s best-ever strikers following a ruthless spell at Old Trafford in the 2000s.

Van Nistelrooy, 49, scored 150 goals in 219 appearances during a five-year stint at United between 2001 and 2006. “So the West Ham goal, I would even say the Everton goal and the Crystal Palace goal was definitely goals Ruud van Nistelrooy would score,” Brown added. “And what I mean by that is the West Ham one is like a toe touch one.

“The Crystal Palace one, it’s just behind the defender who makes the run. I probably say that because they’re all sort of in the box, if that makes sense. The Everton one was just laid back to him. But it’s about how you put it in the goal and some of them definitely remind me of Ruud. And I’m definitely not saying he’s Ruud yet. But it’s all about confidence. Because you can see the abilities there.”

Sesko will be hoping to continue his excellent run of form when United take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.

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Benjamin Sesko has seven goals in his last eight games for Man Utd and Michael Carrick has been impressed with his attitude on and off the pitch.

Michael Carrick is excited about seeing Benjamin Sesko’s “huge potential” flourish at Manchester United after the £73.7million striker kept up his remarkable run in front of goal.

Sesko was handed a first start under Carrick but found the back of the net again in the win against Crystal Palace, taking his tally to four goals in 168 minutes since Carrick’s appointment as head coach in January.

The 22-year-old striker began his rich vein of form during Darren Fletcher’s interim spell in charge, scoring three times in two games under the Scot, and although he has found it harder to break into the team under Carrick, his record in front of goal has been exceptional in 2026.

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His goal against Palace proved to be the winner and his four goals for Carrick have earned United seven points already. Carrick has praised the work Sesko is putting in in training and said the Slovenian had a clear idea of how he wanted to improve at Old Trafford.

“[We’ve been] working closely with him and connecting with him, building that relationship and that trust,” said Carrick. “I think that’s important when you’re trying to help players individually and certainly as a team.

“Lots on Ben, he’s put the work in and he’s stayed positive, he knows how he wants to improve, he is pretty clear on that but he’s a good player. That’s why he’s here, he has some great strengths.

“It’s clear to see he’s scoring different types of goals, but he’s such a threat. I’m really excited about where he can get to without getting too carried away. I think he’s got huge potential, he’s so young, still early days for him, but he is doing fantastic at the moment.”

Sesko came in to the side for Amad against Crystal Palace, with Amad then impressing off the bench, and Carrick suggested his fluid front three could yet change when United head to St James’ Park to play Newcastle on Wednesday.

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“Delighted for Ben. I’ve sat here and said to you for the last few weeks, it’s not really been a headache, it’s not been a big deal, it has not been a big drama. I think he’s had a huge impact,” he said.

“Ben is making big improvements and a little bit is getting used to what it’s like to be here and the feelings and what it means to play and things that we can take for granted at times. He’s desperate to do well.

“He works so hard, he thinks about it an awful lot. He’s an absolute pleasure to work with. It was a fantastic goal, fantastic goal. So he’s bringing an awful lot.

“We’ve got good flexibility across the top line and the front players can play different roles within the game, so there’s a lot of flexibility there and Amad took some time off today and it might change again for Wednesday but it’s nice to have those options really.”

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Manchester United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick has coincided with Benjamin Sesko scoring goals as a substitute and earning the team points with his impact

Alan Shearer says Benjamin Sesko should face no judgment until the centre-forward is starting regularly for Manchester United rather than only playing as a substitute.

Michael Carrick has used the summer signing exclusively to make an impact during matches, with Sesko’s last start coming while Darren Fletcher was briefly in charge. The striker scored three goals across two games during that spell, and has as many across his previous four cameos off the bench for the current boss.

However, the difference is that Sesko is now earning United points, five in total by scoring the winner against Everton and Fulham, as well as the equaliser to draw with West Ham United. His two goals at Turf Moor under Fletcher were enough for a point after Jaidon Anthony’s equaliser.

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Shearer spoke highly of Sesko, telling Betfair: “I was critical of the price that Manchester United paid for Benjamin Sesko [but] he’s done well when called upon for them recently. There’s obviously a reason why Michael Carrick is not starting him.

“When he starts playing games on a regular basis, 12 or 15 games on the spin, that would be the time to judge him. But as a substitute coming on and scoring goals, he’s doing a job.

“Carrick has obviously put a belief in and a structure that the players are comfortable with. It’s remarkable they are in that position; they’re in there because of him, and there’s no way they would have been there if he wasn’t there.

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“They are finding a way to win or not lose games, which is a great sign. He’s given them a very realistic chance at Champions League football.”

Carrick has also played down the external calls for Sesko to start. He says: “I just think the whole thing is a real positive, to be honest, it’s certainly not a decision that is one that I look to in a negative way or anything like that.

“We’re playing well as a team, we’ve been winning games, and I’m still not getting carried away and thinking that just carries on, but certainly within the group and the forward players have scored a good number of goals so far.

“Ben’s been so good in so many ways for us. It’s really not a drama, believe it or not, for how people see it, it’s not a drama, and I think it just shows the qualities Ben’s got for what he’s produced over the last few weeks.

“If and when he starts the next game or the one after, I think, it is what it is, you know, but he’s doing so many good things as well as the team that it’s a good position for us to be in.”

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Benjamin Sesko scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season against Everton, but the Manchester United striker is yet to start under Michael Carrick

Gary Neville has called on Benjamin Sesko to be given a chance in the Manchester United starting line-up after his match-winning goal against Everton. The striker came off the bench to score the crucial goal in Monday night’s 1-0 victory.

The goal was the striker’s seventh in the Premier League since joining United back in the summer. Even though he has been restricted to appearances off the bench under Michael Carrick, he has still scored three goals in five appearances.

His form and performances have led to calls for the 22-year-old to start in the weekend’s clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Neville has now added to those calls.

Speaking on Stick to Football, he said: “In terms of Sesko he’s going to play him at the weekend, you would think now, he’s definitely grown, a little bit like [Viktor] Gyokeres in these last few weeks.”

Fellow pundit Roy Keane was in agreement and highlighted the main difference he has seen in the striker.

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“Confidence, yeah. But even earlier in the season, I think we mentioned, even though he was missing one or two chances, but he was getting into the good positions,” he said. “You think, ‘He’s doing the right stuff, he’s got a lot of confidence and belief.’”

Neville then asked: “Does he look quicker and more powerful?”

Keane replied: “Isn’t that always the case when someone is scoring goals? Attacking players, the weight has been lifted off their shoulders.

“Maybe the test will be you’ve got to be the main man now, can you take that? He’s coming off the bench and getting up to speed of the game.”

Former Premier League striker Ian Wright also praised Sesko for the way he took the goal against Everton.

“What people underestimate is that the ball has come across to Sesko, his concentration and finish was so [good],” he said. “He had a long time to look at it and people underestimate.

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“They think that’s easy because it’s just him and the goalie, but that finish and the contact, the timing, it was fantastic.”

Neville added: “Everybody in that stadium as the ball came across to him knew what he had to do, it’s a long time to look at it but he just did it.”

Amid the calls over the striker to be given a chance in the starting XI, Sesko has outlined his stance when it comes to starting games. “We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me,” he said.

“They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.”

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Ruben Amorim’s stance on Benjamin Sesko never changed throughout his time at Manchester United

Ruben Amorim supported Benjamin Sesko during his difficult early period at Manchester United and the striker is now showing just why the club signed him.

The Slovenian joined Old Trafford last summer in a £74million deal and was viewed as a key part of United’s attacking plans for the future. Despite an impressive spell at RB Leipzig where he found the net 39 times in 87 matches, the 22-year-old found it difficult to settle during the initial phases of his Manchester career.

Managing just two goals in 16 outings before his double against Burnley – the first match following Amorim’s dismissal – scrutiny intensified on the forward.

Throughout his goal-scoring drought, Sesko – who has subsequently netted five times in seven matches under Michael Carrick – retained the backing and confidence of his manager, with the Portuguese boss maintaining that he will spearhead United’s attack for years ahead.

Speaking before United’s 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur, Amorim suggested Sesko possesses even greater ability than he initially anticipated, saying: “I understand how things are in football and he’s going to struggle. That is normal.

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“He has no experience here and then the first impact when everyone says that you are so good, you are the next big thing, and you hear about that with Sesko, and then you come to one club that is the hardest club.”

Sesko faced criticism from significant sections of the media, including United legend Gary Neville. Amorim acknowledged that maintaining composure under pressure, particularly with the world’s attention on you, is especially challenging for a young player.

“If you don’t perform every week, you are going to hear a lot of things from club legends, from pundits, from the media, and sometimes they are right,” added Amorim. “To possess the ability to accept this as normal whilst still retaining your confidence is incredibly difficult for a young kid, particularly one who is a control freak, wants to manage everything, and realises he can’t control everything.

“So, I know, and I’ve said it since I started training with Ben, he has more potential than I initially thought. He’s going to face challenges, and we need to understand his style of play to incorporate our ideas.

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“So, [with] everything, I think I’m quite relaxed with that. He is going to be our striker for the long term. But he’s going to have these struggles and these bumps during the ride, and that is a normal thing in football.”

The striker is undoubtedly vindicating his former manager’s faith as he keeps finding the net with crucial goals in United’s pursuit of Champions League qualification.

His 71st minute strike against Everton in Monday’s 1-0 victory is the most recent addition to his goal-scoring record, which now stands at eight for the campaign across all competitions. In recent weeks he also scored an incredible equaliser against West Ham to rescue a point at the London Stadium and the winner against Fulham in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Rasmus Hojlund failed to live up to expectations at Manchester United and has enjoyed his loan spell at Napoli thus far

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund appears primed to join Napoli permanently in the summer after spending this season there on loan. And the Italian club will reportedly insert a hefty release clause into his prospective new contract.

United shelled out a total of £72million when they purchased Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023. He had just produced a 10-goal campaign in Italy and hopes were high he could develop into a prolific marksman.

However, things simply didn’t work out at Old Trafford. Over two seasons, Hojlund managed only 14 Premier League goals and quickly fell out of favour when Ruben Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag. With Benjamin Sesko brought into the club last summer for £73m, he departed for Naples.

There, the 23-year-old has turned over a new leaf and has 12 goals to his name so far this campaign, more than he managed the entirety of last term. Napoli have a specific obligation to buy Hojlund at this season and the Dane was sent a telling message before he left United.

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Buy-out clause and £38m obligation

Inserted into Hojlund’s loan move is a £38m obligation to buy the striker that is triggered should Napoli qualify for next season’s Champions League. They sit third in the Serie A table with 12 games remaining.

Reports also suggest that even if Antonio Conte’s side miss out on qualifying for the competition, they would endeavour to purchase Hojlund and have an option to do so.

It seems to be a case of when rather than if Hojlund leaves United for good this summer and Napoli have even supposedly crafted a plan for the striker’s anticipated contract.

According to the Daily Mail, the club will insert a £74.3m buy-out clause in Hojlund’s deal and consider his signing a formality. Sporting director Giovanni Manna reportedly sees no reason why the permanent transfer will not happen in the next window.

Manchester United message

Before he bid goodbye to Old Trafford, Hojlund admits United made it abundantly obvious why an exit was on the cards with their parting message.

He told Sports Illustrated: “United made it quite clear for me that I wasn’t part of the plans for this year coming into the season and with no European football and that sort of thing.

“I’m young, I have to play football and for that reason, I think this was also a good opportunity for me. Napoli saw an opportunity to go and get me and as soon as I heard the interest from them, I made it quite obvious for my camp and for the people around that I only wanted to go there.”

On his first interactions with manager Conte, Hojlund added: “It was a quite short conversation. But a very, very good one. I think we were both quite clear that it was a good step for me. I think we [are] suited, it was a good match.

“I think he’s an incredible coach. I’ve only seen him do good things almost everywhere he’s been so obviously that was a big part of it. When he calls you, you just have to say yes.”

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Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Kobbie Mainoo is producing first-class performances on second-class footballing wages – and Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has to address the imbalance.

14:00, 24 Feb 2026

Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens stole the headlines from Manchester United’s crucial win at Everton. Which is just how Kobbie Mainoo would want it. Hogging the limelight is not something the England and United midfielder has an interest in.

Having the misfortune of being managed by Ruben Amorim in a previous life might have something to do with this, considering how the Portuguese stuck him in a box for the first half of this season. But long before Amorim had arrived at Old Trafford, Mainoo had become living proof of how success doesn’t have to change someone like him.

Modest could be Mainoo’s middle name. Mainoo takes a modest approach to stardom and the ups and downs of a career, earns a modest footballing wage and even drives a modest car. One he refuses to park amongst the fleet of flash vehicles all his teammates own, choosing instead to leave it at the front of the training ground car park instead.

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Mainoo would rather go to Nando’s than nightclubs – and drinks water instead of champagne. But the corks should be popping inside the head of United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Waking him up to the realisation that thanks to interim manager Michael Carrick, the club has a wonderful footballer back in the fold.

One deserving of a new and improved contract, which reflects his importance to the future of the team. Sesko scored the winning goal at Everton and Lammens was unflappable at the opposite end, to make it five wins from six games since Carrick arrived back at Old Trafford like some sort of knight in shining armour.

But the foundations of the win were laid by Mainoo. Mainoo provided the calm to all the chaos, with an unflappable performance of simplicity and perpetual motion. He made sure United remained in control. He did the simple things well. He made sure United didn’t count the cost of Bruno Fernandes having a rare off night.

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But Mainoo continues to produce first-class performances, while earning second-class wages. By Premier League football’s standards, anyway.

His current deal of £25,000-a-week might be saving Ratcliffe a fortune, which is something the billionaire will no doubt appreciate. But Ratcliffe should also value the long-term rewards from investing in Mainoo. He will discover how much a top-class midfielder costs this summer, when United look to strengthen in this department.

In the meantime, he should be rewarding one which is right under his nose. And if Ratcliffe has any sense, he will do so before the World Cup.

Because if Mainoo goes to North America with England and impresses, his stock will never have been higher.

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