Erik ten Hag gives injury update on Alejandro Garnacho ahead of West Ham vs Man Utd

Erik ten Hag has said Alejandro Garnacho could be involved this weekend when Manchester United face West Ham United in the Premier League.

The winger, who recently signed a new long-term deal at Old Trafford, has not played since 12 March due to an ankle injury he picked up in a 0-0 draw against Southampton. However, Ten Hag recently confirmed the player has returned to team training and he just missed out on the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek.

Speaking ahead of the trip to the London Stadium on Sunday, Ten Hag said there is a possibility the youth-team graduate could be named in the squad. “I think it will be the same squad [as against Brighton],” Ten Hag said in his pre-match press conference.

“Maybe one player Garnacho, I have to see. Maybe he can be involved but we will have to see how the progress can go.”

That means United remain without five players for the West Ham encounter. Tom Heaton, Raphael Varane and Scott McToiminay are all missing with knocks, while long-term injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Donny van de Beek will prevent them from playing again this season.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag backed his players to bounce back after the midweek loss to Brighton, and is still confident of United’s ability to grab a top-four spot. The Red Devils remain four points clear of fifth-place Liverpool, but blew one of their two games in hand on Thursday as a 99th-minute Alexis Mac Allister penalty handed the Seagulls three points.

“I think we have had quite a good run so far. In our last five, we had four wins and a draw,” Ten Hag said on United’s Champions League aspirations. “We have everything in our hands. So, we have to focus on our performance. I trust my players, so I am quite convinced about it.

“We have to be in the Champions League and it is a battle because in the Premier League, many clubs are competing for it,” he added. “We have the power and we have to fight for it as well. But we want to be there and will do everything to get there.”