Manchester United summer signing Manuel Ugarte suffers injury blow ahead of Brentford clash

Manchester United have been dealt yet another injury concern after Manuel Ugarte was forced off with a muscle problem in Uruguay’s World Cup qualifying match with Ecuador.

Ugarte has been used sparingly by Erik ten Hag since swapping Paris Saint-Germain for Old Trafford and the 23-year-old was not even called upon for the club’s last two matches against Porto and Aston Villa.

But Ugarte was given the nod versus Ecuador after playing the full 90 minutes of Uruguay’s previous clash with Peru, with Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde starting alongside him in the middle of the park in Montevideo.

Ugarte has completed 90 minutes just once since arriving at United and the midfielder appeared on course to see out the full game in the Uruguayan capital, only to go down in a heap in some discomfort in the closing stages.

According to Uruguayan outlet Tenfield, Ugarte threw himself to the ground and asked to be substituted, with Nicolas Fonseca coming on in his place for the remaining few minutes of the goalless draw.

The report claims Ugarte complained of a muscle pain in his right thigh and after examining him, Uruguay’s doctor, Enrique Ramos, placed an ice pack on the affected area.

While the severity of the injury remains unclear, it puts Ugarte’s possible involvement in United’s upcoming clash with Brentford in some doubt.

It has proven an immensely frustrating international break for the Red Devils, with Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire all struggling for fitness.

Ten Hag has also been without Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia, who are all long-term absentees.

Summer signing Noussair Mazraoui, meanwhile, underwent surgery after experiencing heart palpitations and is expected to be absent for at least the next month.

It has been a woeful start to the 2024/25 campaign for United, with the club languishing down in 14th place in the Premier League table.

Ten Hag led the club to eighth, their lowest ever finish in the Premier League, last term and their start this season is their worst since the division – as we now know it – began.

But a defiant Ten Hag retains the backing of United’s hierarchy for the time being, despite rumours and speculation continuing to swirl over his future.

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