Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged the club to send Leny Yoro out on loan next season and sign another centre-half.

Rebuilding their midfield is a top priority for United this summer with Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali all top targets. The club will also look to add a left winger to the squad with a new left-back also under consideration.

Butt however believes another centre-half is required to take the team to the next level. Harry Maguire has signed a contract extension at Old Trafford with he and Lisandro Martinez the first choice pairing of Michael Carrick.

Matthijs de Ligt was in fine form earlier this season but a mysterious back injury has seen him miss five months of action with no clear picture on when he will return.

Ayden Heaven and Yoro are also in the mix, regarded as a partnership for the future.

United saw off strong interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool to sign Yoro from Lille in 2024 with Butt convinced he will grow into a vital player for the club.

But with his old side hoping to be back among the Champions League elite next season, the former midfielder believes the young Frenchman would benefit from a loan switch.

With doubts also over the long-term fitness of Martinez and Maguire, Butt has the club to go out and buy ‘a top, top defender.’

‘[Matthijs] De Ligt is a top, top player, but he’s had loads of injuries and what can you do there? You can’t get rid of him because you’ll lose too much money, you’ve got to get him fit and see what he’s about,’ Butt told Paddy Power.

‘So you’ve got Harry and De Ligt. Then you’re looking at [Lenny] Yoro, I think he’s a young player who’s going to be a top, top defender.

‘But it’s too soon for him to go and try and get us to the latter stages of the Champions League. I would loan him out.

‘[Lisandro] Martinez, every time he plays he does very well, he’s a good player, he’s a proper defender, he’s good with the ball, he’s a hard little sod.

‘But he’s injured too much, so I think they’re going to have to go and look for a top centre-back.

‘I don’t think it should be the first port of call, but I think if you want to get to the level where Man Utd should be back playing, I think go and get a top centre-back. Someone like a Rio Ferdinand, a top, really established player.

‘Maguire is older and De Ligt and Martinez get a lot of injuries, Yoro is the one that does keep fit, but he’s far too young to carry the back four himself. So [Michael Carrick] needs to go out and buy a top, top defender.’

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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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Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Friday evening, a match in which they were dealt a bitter blow when Harry Maguire was sent off

Manchester United head into the March international break on the back of a 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth. Already fraught with injury, the Reds’ defence took a further blow when Harry Maguire was sent off during Friday evening’s trip to the Vitality Stadium.

United were held to a 2-2 draw by the Cherries during the encounter, but it was Stuart Attwell’s decision to show Maguire a red for denying Evanilson a goalscoring opportunity in his own box which dominated the headlines. It came on a day in which Maguire received a call-up to the England national team by Thomas Tuchel.

The 33-year-old is part of a 35-man England squad to take on Uruguay and Japan at the end of the month. However, he will now be ineligible to take part in United’s clash with Leeds come April 13 as a result of a one-match ban.

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It comes as added stress to an already stretched defence, given an abundance of injuries that United are currently dealing with. Here, the MEN breaks down who is currently sidelined for the Reds, and their potential return dates…

Patrick Dorgu

Patrick Dorgu has been recovering from a hamstring injury which he picked up against Arsenal at the turn of the year. He is not expected to return until April at the earliest.

Potential return date: April.

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Noussair Mazraoui

Noussair Mazraoui missed Manchester United’s trip to the south coast on Friday through illness, having also missed Wednesday’s training session. Carrick confirmed in his press conference: “[Dorgu] is a bit further down the line, but [Mazraoui] is just ill. He just wasn’t feeling too good today.”

Potential return date: April 13 vs United (H).

Matthijs De Ligt

Matthijs De Ligt has been ruled out of contention since November with a back injury. Speaking about the defender, Carrick said: “It’s difficult to say, just because it’s taken that much time. I can’t give you any more on it really. It’s one of those things with backs that sometimes you think it’s all right and then all of a sudden it’s not quite right.”

Potential return date: April 13 vs Leeds (H).

Lisandro Martinez

While Lisandro Martinez also missed the Bournemouth match through a calf injury, Carrick gave a promising update on the Argentine. He said: “Lisandro is] closer, a lot closer. He’s getting there, so after this one. I think he’ll be alright.”

Potential return date: April 13 vs Leeds (H).

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Manchester United face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Friday night, and both teams will have several players on the sidelines due to injury

Manchester United and Bournemouth will both have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Premier League on Friday night. The Reds will make the trip to the south coast to face the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium in the Friday Night Football as they continue their quest to qualify for the Champions League.

Michael Carrick steered United to a victory over Aston Villa in their last match in the Premier League, which boosted their hopes of finishing in the top four.

Next up in Bournemouth, which will give United the chance to extend the advantage over top-four rivals Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of the weekend’s round of fixtures.

However, Carrick will be forced to have some members of the United squad on the sidelines and unavailable for selection.

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Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined for United as he continues to recover from a back injury which has ruled the defender out since November, and Carrick has admitted he is unsure when a return to the matchday squad will happen.

“It’s difficult to say, just because it’s taken that much time,” Carrick said. “I can’t give you any more on it really. It’s one of those things with backs that sometimes you think it’s all right and then all of a sudden it’s not quite right.

“We’re just kind of being patient and working through it. We’ll just have to see. We’ll obviously give him time and try to get him back as quick as we can, but it’s really difficult to say. I’m not trying to hide anything, literally at the moment we don’t know so we’ll have to wait and see.

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“He’s improving, it’s not improving as quick as we all hope, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Patrick Dorgu is also unavailable for United as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and is not expected to return until next month at the earliest.

Noussair Mazraoui has also emerged as a doubt for United after Carrick confirmed the defender missing training on Wednesday with illness.

“[Dorgu] is a bit further down the line, but [Mazraoui] is just ill,” Carrick said. “He just wasn’t feeling too good today.”

Lisandro Martinez is also expected to miss United’s clash with Bournemouth with a calf injury, but Carrick provided an optimistic update earlier this week.

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

Bournemouth will also have several players on the sidelines for the clash against United. Justin Kluivert is still ruled out after having surgery on a knee injury back in January.

Lewis Cook and Tyler Adams are also unavailable for the Cherries, with manager Andoni Iraola providing an update earlier this week.

“Tyler is not going to be available, as you suppose, because he hasn’t been in the squad for the US,” Iraola told reporters this week.

“Lewis Cook is still not ready. We have almost three weeks now without a game [after Manchester United] so we want to use that space for him to recover properly and be ready for the next one. We have no fresh injuries.”

Julio Soler is also still unavailable for Bournemouth with a hamstring injury he picked up earlier this season.

Manchester United were handed a new injury worry in their Premier League win over beat Aston Villa this past weekend

Manchester United got back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon as they beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Old Trafford. Goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko sealed the victory, with Bruno Fernandes also putting in another superb performance.

Michael Carrick’s are now three points clear of Villa in the race for Champions League football next season. Chelsea and Liverpool also failing to win meant it was a great weekend for United as they now sit six and five points above their two rivals, respectively

There was some good news for Carrick and Co. even before the action kicked off with Mason Mount back in the matchday squad. He remained an unused substitute on his return to the fold after six weeks out due to injury.

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Three key players remain unavailable however, with a possible fresh injury concern spotted late into the win against Villa. With all of that being said, the Manchester Evening News has rounded up the latest updates on United’s injured stars and when they could all return.

Bryan Mbeumo

In the 75th minute, Mbeumo was replaced by Sesko with Gary Neville suggesting he may have been injured as the Sky Sports co-commentator questioned if he was limping while he made his way off. He also noticed him look at a United teammate “as if he might be carrying something.”

Carrick was not asked about a potential Mbeumo injury after the game. Having struggled to have an impact, it seems more likely he was disappointed with his performance.

Possible return date: Bournemouth (A) – March 20

Lisandro Martinez

Martinez has missed United’s last four games through injury. It looked to be a minor issue for the Argentine but he suffered a setback in training recently, as per The Daily Mail, that delayed his return.

What Carrick has said (March 3): “He’s not quite ready for that. We’ve got one or two we’re trying to work to get them back.”

Possible return date: Leeds United (H) – April 13

Mason Mount

Mount was named on United’s bench for the visit of Villa following a positive update from Carrick earlier this week.

What Carrick has said: “Mason is back with the group, which is fantastic. He’s not 100 per cent, because he’s only trained with us a small amount of time, but he’s back, and that’s good for us. So, we’ll see if he’s involved or not.”

Possible return date: Returned

Matthijs de Ligt

It has nearly been four months out of action for Matthijs de Ligt due to a back issue. United have been managing the problem carefully and thus it seems likely he will return after the upcoming international break and FA Cup quarter-final weekend.

What Carrick has said (Feb 28): “Matthijs, he’s had a back issue, which has been a little bit slower to progress, really. It’s something we’ve been working through, and he’s getting there.

He’s in the right direction, but as I said, he’s just a little bit further behind. It’s a difficult one to pin down, especially time-wise. He’s definitely improving, so that’s a good thing

Possible return date: Leeds United (H) – April 13

Patrick Dorgu

Dorgu has missed the last month-and-a-half with a hamstring injury suffered in the win over Arsenal. He is another expected to be back for the game against Leeds United in mid-April, however.

What Carrick has said (Jan 30): “Pat, unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a period of time. We’re still working through how long that’s going to be. We weren’t sure whether it was a little bit of cramp or whether it was something a little bit more serious, and at the moment, it looks a little bit more on the serious note.”

Possible return date: Leeds United (H) – April 13

Manchester United return to action on Sunday after an 11-day break without any games when they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League

Manchester United will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat under the guidance of Michael Carrick in their last outing when they are back in Premier League action this weekend. They have a chance to give their hopes of Champions League qualification a big boost.

Third-placed United host fourth-placed Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off). The match comes 11 days after a 2-1 loss against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

While United have had a bit longer to prepare for the game, Villa were in action on Thursday night, recording a 1-0 away win over Lille in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

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The extra time will come as a boost to United, with players nursing and overcoming knocks having a longer chance to recover and be available for selection.

Ahead of the game, Carrick has given the latest update on his squad, with two boosts, although there are still some players remaining on the sidelines. With that in mind, here is the latest from the Carrington treatment room.

Mason Mount

Injury: Knock.

The midfielder has been out since early in Carrick’s reign.

What Carrick has said: “Mason is back with the group, which is fantastic. He’s an important player for us, Mason, and to have him back and involved is a good step for us.

“He is not 100 per cent in terms of back, because he’s only trained a very small amount of time, but he’s back and that’s good for us so we’ll see whether he’s involved or not on Sunday, but it’s a big step for him, so we’re happy with that. That’s it in terms of players coming back for now.”

Possible return date: vs Aston Villa (H) – Sunday, March 15.

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Noussair Mazraoui

Injury: Foot

The defender was forced off the pitch in the closing stages of the loss against Newcastle with a foot injury.

What has been said: “Noussair Mazraoui trained this week despite coming off with a knock during our 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United, nine days ago,” United wrote in an update on their official website.

Possible return date:vs Aston Villa (H) – Sunday, March 15.

Lisandro Martinez

Injury: Calf.

The defender has missed the last three Premier League games due to the injury.

What Carrick has said: “That’s it in terms of players coming back for now.”

Possible return date: April.

Patrick Dorgu

Injury: Hamstring.

The full-back has missed the last six Premier League games due to his injury.

What Carrick has said: “That’s it in terms of players coming back for now.”

Possible return date: April.

Matthijs de Ligt

Injury: Back

The back injury has caused De Ligt to miss the last three-and-a-half months of action.

What Carrick has said: “Matthijs, he’s had a back issue, which has been a little bit slower to progress, really. It’s something we’ve been working through, and he’s getting there. He’s in the right direction, but as I said, he’s just a little bit further behind. It’s a difficult one to pin down, especially time-wise. He’s definitely improving, so that’s a good thing.” (Feb 27)

Possible return date: April.

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Man Utd have some excellent centre-back options on paper but getting them out onto the pitch this season has been difficult to do.

Manchester United committed almost £100million to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. The coveted centre-backs should be at their peak and forming a formidable defensive partnership together at Old Trafford.

But injuries and fitness issues mean getting them out together on the same pitch is proving almost impossible. In their absence at the moment, it is an old-stager in Harry Maguire and a young buck in Leny Yoro who are leading the United defence for Michael Carrick.

Such have been the injury issues affecting De Ligt, 26, and Martinez, 28, that they have been on the same pitch together for just eight minutes in close to 14 months. That came at the end of the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in November.

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The last time De Ligt and Martinez started a game together was in January 2024, when they were in the team that won 2-0 against FCSB in Bucharest in the Europa League. Martinez suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Crystal Palace in the following game.

When the Argentine returned to the team in November, De Ligt went down with a back injury he still can’t shake. Now Martinez is set to miss a fourth successive game with a calf problem that he initially hoped would rule him out for only one match.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way when they joined the club. Both former Ajax alumni under Erik ten Hag, Martinez joined directly from Amsterdam for an initial £48.3million in 2022, with potential add-ons of £8.4million. Two years later, De Ligt signed from Bayern Munich for £38.4million, with a further £4.3million in add-ons.

Both have shown signs since then that they have what it takes to thrive at United. Martinez was outstanding in his first season, especially, and was finding form again before his latest injury. De Ligt was in the best form of his Old Trafford career before suffering his back injury.

The concern is how robust they can be, and whether United can afford to carry two prime-age centre-backs who are struggling to stay fit enough to contribute for a full season. Martinez is now closing in on 100 games missed through injury since he signed in the summer of 2022.

De Ligt is only in his second full season at the club and has now missed 26 games. His latest back issue is a concern. Ruben Amorim initially suggested he would be missing for just a couple of weeks, but it is now three-and-a-half months, and on a couple of occasions, he has been close to returning to training before complaining of pain and having to go back a stage or two.

In his absence, Maguire has stepped in to produce a string of superb performances. The 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer, but his form, coupled with fears of the durability of De Ligt and Martinez, could earn him a new deal. His teammates want him to stay and talks are likely to centre over a pay cut from his current £190,000-a-week deal, which could be offset with a two-year extension.

United also have one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs in Yoro. The 20-year-old has had a difficult season, but his form has been better of late and there are still high hopes for him, while Ayden Heaven, 19, has been a revelation since joining from Arsenal for £1.5million just over a year ago.

In Maguire, United can be happy with the experience they have in defence, and in Yoro and Heaven they have two excellent prospects for the future. At the moment, it is the players who should be at their peak and should probably be starting together every week who are causing the concern.

Man Utd face Aston Villa on Sunday in what is going to be a crucial game in the race for Champions League football.

Manchester United are set to have Noussair Mazraoui available to face Aston Villa on Sunday after he returned to training on Wednesday, but Lisandro Martinez is set to miss the crucial game.

Mazraoui limped out of United’s defeat to Newcastle a week ago, sparking fears he could be set for a spell on the sidelines. The Moroccan was making his first start for the club in almost three months at St James’ Park.

He came into the side for Diogo Dalot but had to be replaced by Tyrell Malacia on 85 minutes. That sparked fears that Mazraoui could face a fitness battle for the Old Trafford clash with Villa when third plays fourth.

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But the 28-year-old trained at Carrington on Wednesday and is set to give Michael Carrick a boost by being available to face Unai Emery’s side.

It isn’t all good news for Carrick, however, with Martinez’s calf injury taking longer than expected to recover from and the Argentine centre-back is yet to resume full training after a setback.

Martinez was only expected to miss one game when he initially picked up the problem in training, but the game with Villa is now set to be a fourth successive match that he will be absent for as his rotten luck with injuries continues.

Carrick will hold his pre-match press conference on Friday, during which he will provide a fitness update on his squad. Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount are also still on the sidelines.

De Ligt hasn’t played since the end of November as he battles a back injury, while Mount has missed six games after picking up what was initially described as a minor injury. Dorgu has been out injured since limping off in the win over Arsenal in late January.

Manchester United have been dealt a blow as they will be without Lisandro Martinez for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa, as per reports.

Martinez picked up a calf injury in training following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against West Ham United last month. At the time, head coach Michael Carrick said it was a ‘small issue’ and that the defender ‘won’t be out for very long’.

However, Martinez has missed the Red Devils’ last three league games and is likely to sit out at least one more.

According to the Daily Mail, Martinez suffered a slight reaction back on the training ground at Carrington and is expected to miss the upcoming league match against Villa. The report adds that the issue isn’t deemed serious, but Manchester United are taking a cautious approach and do not want to rush the Argentine back into the squad.

“Sources insist the problem isn’t too serious, but Martinez suffered a slight reaction in training and it was decided to take a more cautious approach with his recovery. United want to avoid a similar situation with Martinez to Matthijs de Ligt, who hasn’t played since the end of November.”

The setback couldn’t have come at a worse time, as United are in a tightly contested race for Champions League football. That means the Old Trafford outfit find themselves even shorter of options in central defence. Prior to Martinez’s setback, Manchester United has been without Matthijs de Ligt since the end of November after he suffered a back injury.

“It’s the one we’re looking forward to” – Carrick on Manchester United’s preparation for Aston Villa

Carrick relished Sunday’s high-stakes contest at Old Trafford and stressed the importance of winning. The former midfielder was handed his first defeat in charge last time out – a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United.

“It’s an important game,” Carrick told club reporter Mikey Partington. “It’s one we’re looking forward to, you know. We’ve manoeuvred ourselves into such a good position now and it’s been a positive couple of months that we want to build on.

“We’re coming off the back of losing a game, but it happens, we’ve seen pretty much everyone over recent weeks has lost. So that’s what this league brings and we’re putting things in perspective and understanding what we can do a little bit better. But the boys have been really good in training again and just looking forward to the next game.”

Ahead of the match, Manchester United sit third while Aston Villa sit fourth in the table.