INJURY UPDATE
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reportedly facing a year out on the sidelines after reportedly rupturing his anterior and posterior ligaments. Ibrahimovic’s injury awkward landing caused hyperextension of his right knee. At his age, it could potentially be a career-ending injury.
Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo also faces a lengthy spell on the treatment table. Though less serious than the Ibrahimovic injury, Rojo’s season is thought to be over and may not play again until September. Rojo is lucky to have not suffered an even serious injury. He narrowly escaped overloading of his tendons. Medical examinations diagnosed him with an anterior ligament rupture.
NOT ON THE CHEAP
Sean Dyche has told Manchester United that he will not sell summer target Michael Keane cheaply in the summer. Dyche has revealed that he will risk losing Keane for a free next summer rather than let him go cheaply in this one.
Manchester United have now emerged as favourites to sign the Burnley man after an injury forced a rethink and rejig of summer transfer plans. Burnley value Keane at around £20m but the sell on clause could see them pocket the England International or as cheap as £15m.
EUROPA DRAW
Manchester United drew Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-finals in the draws made on Friday at the UEFA headquarters in Switzerland. Like in the last two rounds, United will first travel to Spain before welcoming the Spaniards at Old Trafford a week later. Ajax and Lyon will play each other in the other semi-finals. The first leg will be played in just less than a fortnight on May 5th. The return leg will be played on 13th May.
TIPPED FOR THE TOP
Paul Scholes has once again praised Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford. The 19-year-old scored two key goals as United beat both Chelsea and Anderlecht. And now with Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured, the academy graduate will become United’s main man for at least the rest of the season.
“He will be a brilliant centre-forward, there’s no doubt about that,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.
“My only concern is because he is so quick, and United will possibly have two or three centre-forwards, he might get shoved out wide. It’s not a bad thing – you look at Cristiano’s record. People like Neymar, he has got that kind of ability. It’s a lot to live up to but he can be a world star.
“He’d be the central striker in big games. You saw the difference [against Chelsea] to what it did to the speed of the team,” Scholes added. ”He almost occupied three centre-halves and Kante. He gives space to other people by running in behind.”