Man Utd early team news: Five injured players in contention to return v Newport

Erik ten Hag could welcome back several players for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Newport County next weekend.

The League Two club face an all-Welsh derby against Wrexham on Saturday, while Manchester United’s players will have enjoyed a 14-day break by the time they’re in action at Rodney Parade. 

Erik ten Hag will hope the side come back refreshed after the mid-season hiatus, and that several of those who sat out the Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur manage to step up their recoveries from injury. The Dutchman said ahead of the Spurs game that he expects Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount to be available soon, and the trio could return in time for the Newport trip.

Harry Maguire is in a similar boat and has missed over a month with a groin injury. Luke Shaw has also struggled with a niggle in recent weeks and had to drop out of the Spurs game late on. Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were named in the squad against Tottenham, further bolstering Ten Hag’s options after an injury-ravaged first half of the campaign.

But Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat are expected to miss out due to their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations. The pair could technically be involved in south Wales if Cameroon and Morocco were eliminated before next weekend, but that looks unlikely.

Anthony Martial is the final fitness concern for United. The striker has had an interesting week without kicking a ball, and his agent came out to refute claims that Martial has been exiled from the first-team squad by Ten Hag.

He was, however, deemed ‘not fit’ by the manager ahead of the Tottenham game and is undergoing an individual training regime at present. Martial has not played since the loss to Bournemouth on 9 December and struggled with an illness last month.

Josh Seberry is the only confirmed absentee for Newport, with the defender out since November due to a broken leg he sustained against Notts County in October.