Manchester United confirm triple fitness boost ahead of Chelsea fixture

Manchester United have been handed a timely triple fitness boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea after the club suffered a major double defensive blow earlier in the week.

Erik ten Hag has confirmed Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire have all trained ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge and that there have not been any fresh injury concerns.

United could have just three fit centre-backs for tomorrow night's match after the club confirmed that both Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof would be sidelined for roughly one month. It is understood that both players are aiming to be back before the end of the season, as Ten Hag's defensive issues continue to mount up after a gruelling campaign. Argentine international Martinez sustained a calf strain in training at the start of the week, while Lindelof was withdrawn in the second half of the Brentford draw with a hamstring injury.

Asked for the team news ahead of the Chelsea clash, Ten Hag told reporters: "No more issues, we don't need. On the frontline and midfield we are okay and we have options there but in the backline we have a lack of options but the good thing is back in training this afternoon is Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans. Yesterday Harry Maguire was back in training."

The injuries for Martinez and Lindelof mark the 53rd separate cases of injury or illness that have caused a senior United player to miss a game this season, with some players understood to be questioning the intensity of training under Ten Hag.

When quizzed on whether or not United coaches understood why their players had been suffering from so many muscle injuries this season, the manager added: "We have an idea but we will work on it. Internally, we will deal with it."