Man Utd's Injury Nightmares: Sweating Over Stars Before Leeds Showdown

Manchester United are staring down the barrel of a massive 24-day gap without a competitive match, and with Leeds United rocking up at Old Trafford on Monday, April 13, the pressure's on. No European jaunts this term after scraping 15th last season and that gutting Europa League final loss means a barren schedule. Throw in an FA Cup exit to Brighton, and it's been drier than a teetotaler's birthday bash.

Boss Michael Carrick has the squad playing last in this Premier League round, so they'll know exactly how Chelsea, Liverpool, and Aston Villa fared in the top-four scrap. Harry Maguire sits out suspended after his Bournemouth red, but there's hope on the horizon for a few key men. Here's the lowdown on who's limping back and who's still in the physio's naughty corner, pieced together from the latest whispers.

Quick Fixes: The Nearly-There Lads

First up, Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international pulled out of international duty as a precaution after grinding through 71 minutes in that 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. It's just a minor knock, nothing to lose sleep over – reports from the Beeb reckon he'll be good to go against Leeds. Fingers crossed he slots straight back in and terrorises the Whites down the flank.

Benjamin Sesko is in a similar boat, dodging Slovenia caps to nurse a nagging issue United's been babying for weeks. The striker's been on fire off the bench lately, bagging eight goals in his last 11 outings. Skipping those games against Hungary and Montenegro was smart – he's primed for a full recovery and a start at Old Trafford.

Defender Lisandro Martinez has been sidelined for five games since that West Ham draw, missing out on the Everton trip too. With Yoro holding fort alongside the booked Maguire, Lisandro's return couldn't come soon enough. Carrick's bullish: "He's a lot closer now, should be alright after the break." Perfect timing for the Argentine to shore up the backline.

And Noussair Mazraoui? Missed Bournemouth through illness but bounced back sharp enough for Morocco duty, clocking 82 minutes against Ecuador. Rested for Paraguay, he's set to be available – no excuses there.

Long-Term Headaches: Out in the Cold

Not all sunshine though. Matthijs de Ligt has been nursing a lower back problem since late November – that's pushing four months on the sidelines. The Dutch powerhouse hasn't sniffed first-team action under Carrick, who's pessimistic: the gaffer's worried it might end his season. "The back's proving tricky, but we're grafting to get him right," he admitted pre-Bournemouth. Potential return? Your guess is as good as mine – unknown for now.

Then there's Patrick Dorgu, the young gun who lit up Carrick's first games. Goals in the Manchester derby and a belter against Arsenal had him flying, but a hamstring twang at the Emirates put paid to that. Carrick's gutted: "It looked serious, a few weeks out at least." If it's the full ten weeks, he might sneak in for Leeds, but don't hold your breath. Disappointing for a lad in such red-hot form.

Why It Matters: Leeds Looms Large

This injury merry-go-round comes at the worst time. United need every point in the Champions League chase, and with rivals playing earlier, Carrick's got intel but zero margin for error. Martinez and the quick healers could tip the scales, but De Ligt's absence leaves the defence threadbare.

Fans are twitching like they've had one too many pre-match pints. Will Mbeumo and Sesko fire up the attack? Can Martinez steady the ship without Maguire? Tune in April 13 – it's set to be a cracker, niggles or not. Original reporting via the Evening Standard, as covered by OneFootball.