Man United promote 18-year-old centre back to first-team squad amid their injury ravaged season… as Erik ten Hag’s side could look to ‘gifted’ star ahead of Bournemouth clash

Man United‘s treatment room has been one of the busiest in the Premier League this season but their injury woes seem to have remarkably continued this week, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans being added to their list of absentees.

It’s been an injury ravaged season for Erik ten Hag‘s side, and in the midst of a lack of defenders, the Dutchman has reportedly called an 18-year-old centre back up to train with the first-team squad ahead of their clash against Bournemouth. 

On Thursday, the club announced that Varane and Evans would be unavailable for this weekend’s fixture having both suffered muscle injuries. The France international is now set to be sidelined for a ‘few weeks’ after sustaining the injury during their 4-3 defeat by Chelsea. Evans’ issue is expected to see him sidelined for a ‘shorter-term’. 

Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof have also recently been ruled out with injuries – meaning Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala are the only two central defenders available for Saturday.

In their absences, Manchester Evening News report that the Red Devils have called academy star Jack Kingdon up to train with the first-team on Friday.

Raphael Varane (left) and Jonny Evans (right) have both been ruled out of Saturday’s match 

The 18-year-old joined United from Morecombe back in 2020 for a ‘six-figure fee’ and has risen through the academy ranks at Carrington to be one of their most promising young stars. 

Kingdon, who has represented Scotland at age-grade level, has been enjoying a fine season with United’s U18 Premier League side, scoring twice in 14 appearances to help the young Red Devils rise to the top of the league table. 

He has also been utilised in United’s 2023-24 UEFA Youth League campaign, making four appearances in United’s matches against Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.

The 6ft 1in centre back has previously played as a striker and as a midfielder at age-grade level, but most impresed as a defender. He can also play at right-back. 

It means there is a chance Kingdon could follow in the footsteps of fellow United star, Kobbie Mainoo, and make his first appearance for the senior side this weekend, if he is named in the first-team squad to play against Bournemouth.

Mainoo has enjoyed a sensational breakout season with the Red Devils, notably scoring his first goal at Old Trafford for the first-team against rivals Liverpool last weekend.

Concerns have been mounting in recent weeks over whether United will qualify for the Champions League this season, having crashed out of the Champions League earlier this season. 

Academy star Jack Kingdon has ‘been called up to train with the first-team on Friday’ 

The 18-year-old has helped Man United’s U18 side rise to the top of the U18 Premier League

Kingdon has also made four appearances for United in their UEFA Youth League campaign

But there is more bad news for United fans with Ten Hag expressing concerns over the fitness of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay during a press conference on Friday. 

‘Rashy [Rashford] trained yesterday, so how he recovered from it today, we have another training today and then we will make a decision on it,’ the manager said, after the forward was seen limping from the field during Sunday’s match. 

When asked whether McTominay would be fit to return after he missed the Liverpool clash with a knee injury, Ten Hag said: ‘Scott, I don’t think so.

‘We have a training, so we have a day, he will push, he is so keen to be a part of it tomorrow, so it’s very questionable.’

While Untied are still in the FA Cup, they have largely failed to surpass their achievements in the 2022-23 campaign, where they finished third in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup. 

Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala are the only two central defenders available for Saturday

Ten Hag also raised alarm bells over the fitness of Marcus Rashford on Friday afternoon

But Ten Hag has attributed a much of their season’s struggles to the staggering number of injuries United have had. 

‘No team can deal with so many injuries,’ he said per The Guardian. 

‘I think we played to maximum levels if you take into respect the availability of the players. We missed so many key players over the part of the season.

‘The performances we have seen when the players are available in January and February, were very good.’