Manchester United suffer huge double injury blow ahead of Chelsea fixture

Manchester United have suffered a double injury blow ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea on Thursday night.

Erik ten Hag’s side travel to Stamford Bridge this week knowing a much improved performance is required if they are to keep alive their faint hopes of Champions League qualification. United were fortunate to even escape with a point in their weekend meeting with Brentford and will have to seek an improvement with a makeshift defensive selection.

United have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the clash with defensive duo Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof both set to be out of action for at least a month due to respective muscle injuries.

The club confirmed on Tuesday night that Argentine international Martinez sustained a calf strain in training at the start of the week, while Lindelof was withdrawn in the second half of the Brentford draw with a hamstring injury.

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.

The latest setbacks raise further questions about United's handling of injured players, with Martinez only making his return from a knee injury in the weekend clash. It marks 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.