Manchester United could be without nine players against Brentford

Manchester United could be without as many as nine players when they host Brentford in the Premier League this weekend.

Erik ten Hag is set to take charge of the match amid continued speculation surrounding his future, and he will need to see a huge improvement in performance as well as result from his side. He might have to do it without a host of key players though, with United sweating over the fitness of four players, while another five are set to miss the match through injury.

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both withdrew from international duty as a 'precaution' and will hope to be fit enough to feature this weekend, while Amad Diallo is also a doubt after he withdrew from the Ivory Coast squad due to illness.

Mason Mount has missed the last two matches with a head injury, but his setback was only initially described as 'minor', so there is hope he should be involved on Saturday afternoon.

As for the injuries, Noussair Mazraoui is set for around three or four weeks on the sidelines after he recently underwent a minor precautionary corrective heart procedure. It means United are set to have just one senior full-back available this weekend, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both still sidelined, though there is a hope both could be back in action by the end of the month.

United are also still without summer signing Leny Yoro, who is aiming to be back in action next month, while Harry Maguire is also set to be out until November with the muscle injury he suffered against Aston Villa.

Given the shortage in defence, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans or Victor Lindelof could fill in at full-back this weekend, with Diogo Dalot set to fulfil the other slot at eighter right or left-back.