Rangnick gives update on Ronaldo, Cavani, Shaw & Varane as they miss Manchester City v Manchester United

Ralf Rangnick has said Cristiano Ronaldo is missing Sunday’s Manchester derby due to a hip injury, which he picked up in training this week.

The forward, who suffered from a similar problem earlier in the year, wasn’t named in the Manchester United squad to face Manchester City.

Nor was Edinson Cavani, who has missed the last month through a groin injury. It means United look likely to play with Bruno Fernandes as a false nine at the Etihad.

That isn’t the end of the bad news for the Red Devils, with Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane also not included in the team’s 20-man squad for the Premier League encounter.

But speaking ahead of the game, Rangnick shed some light on why the quartet will be absent this weekend.

“Varane and Shaw tested positive for Covid in midweek,” the German told MUTV, ahead of his first Manchester derby.

“Edi trained well in the last three days but in the end he didn’t feel well enough to play. Ronaldo had issues with his hip flexor on Friday and that’s why he can’t play.”

However, in more encouraging news, Scott McTominay starts for the Red Devils, while Paul Pogba retains his place.

It’s David De Gea who starts in nets for United, ahead of a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Alex Telles.

McTominay and Pogba are joined in the middle by the industrious Fred, while it’s Fernandes in the false nine, and Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga operating from the wide areas.