Manchester United confirm extent of Kobbie Mainoo injury blow

Manchester United have confirmed how long the club will be without key midfielder Kobbie Mainoo for the next few games due to an ongoing injury concern.

Mainoo was substituted five minutes before the end of United’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa before the international break. In what was an important match for United, Mainoo’s injury forced him to pull out of the England squad for the games against Greece and Finland.

United medical team have now confirmed that that Mainoo will be sidelined for “a few weeks” with a muscle injury.

The club failed to give a precise timeframe for Mainoo’s return date. Centre-back Harry Maguire is in a similar boat after also suffering a muscle injury against Villa.

Mainoo has started every Premier League game for United so far this season, underlining his importance to the team following his breakthrough last November and meteoric rise.

It’s set to be a busy month for United with Erik ten Hag’s side playing seven games across three competitions between now and the November international break in four weeks, .

Starting with Brentford this weekend, attention turns to the Europa League with a lengthy round trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce. Then it is West Ham United at the London Stadium on 27 October, followed by Leicester City in the Carabao Cup three days later.

United will play Chelsea at Old Trafford on 3 November, with Greek side PAOK coming on 7 November and Leicester, this time in the Premier League, three days after that.

Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen will likely replace Mainoo. The Denmark international is likely to play alongside Casemiro against Brentford.

Right-back Noussair Mazraoui trained on Thursday and might be fit to face Brentford. He recently undergone a minor heart procedure after experiencing palpitations during the Aston Villa draw.