Ralf Rangnick gives update on Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof & Eric Bailly

Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has said Victor Lindelof could be available for the club’s next Premier League match.

The Red Devils face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, their first game of 2022, and the Swede might be able to play after recently testing positive for Covid-19.

Speaking after Thursday’s 3-1 victory over Burnley, which Lindelof missed, Rangnick said: “I hope Victor could be back by then [Monday].

“If the next test is negative I think he should be able to come back for this game. He has no symptoms so there is no physical problem for that game.”

The defender’s availability is even more vital given Eric Bailly is not expected to be an option against Wolves.

The No.3 had originally been away with the Ivory Coast national team and was called back to the United squad to face Burnley due to a shortage of centre-backs. However, alarmingly for Bailly and his international team-mates, the United defender had to be replaced by Raphael Varane in the second half after picking up a minor knock.

“Eric had already left four days ago for the Africa Cup of Nations so he was still in Spain so we asked him to come back,” explained Rangnick, although he didn’t give any further details on Bailly’s knock against Burnley.

“I think he did well, except for the mistake before the goal we conceded today.

“With Rapha, it was just… I was thinking about playing him today but the last time that happened after his muscle injury, he was then out for a couple of weeks,” he added. “So we just didn’t want to make the same mistake again and that’s why I decided to have him on the bench first.”

Super Scott!

Rangnick also gave an update on man-of-the-match Scott McTominay, who scored and set up Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal during the victory over Burnley.

However, Rangnick revealed in his post-match press conference that the Scotland international had been a major doubt ahead of the fixture.

“We only decided this afternoon at 2pm that he would play,” said the United manager. “He has had some problems with his ankle, a contusion injury that he suffered at Newcastle, so it was good to have him in the team.

“At half-time, the team doctor told me he would be suffering in the second half, in regards to the level of pain, so it was very important to have him in the team and in the end he could play for the whole 93 minutes.”