Ruud van Nistelrooy issues 'hopeful' Manchester United injury update after five midfielders miss Chelsea match

Ruud van Nistelrooy is hopeful Manchester United will have more midfielders to choose from when his side face PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night.

United only had three senior midfielders to select from when they faced Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend, with four teenagers named on the bench such was their shortage of options.

Christian Eriksen missed the second match in succession with an unknown injury issue, while Kobbie Mainoo is not expected back until after the international break with a hamstring issue. Mason Mount hasn't featured since the home defeat to Tottenham last month and Toby Collyer has been ruled out for around a month after his own setback. Dan Gore is also currently side lined with an injury issue.

It means Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are the only senior midfield options available to Van Nistelrooy at this moment in time, but the interim head coach is hopeful he will have more options to choose from when they return to action later this week.

“No, we were thin,” Van Nistelrooy told MUTV after the draw with Chelsea. "We had some young lads on the bench who are very talented and will be very important for the future. As you say, we are thin, especially in midfield. We had no midfielders on the bench, but we hope we can bring some back for the coming week so we can have more options from the bench."