Fernandes, Shaw, Mount: Manchester United injury news and latest return dates amid international break

Manchester United will hope that their Premier League season truly kicks off after the international break, following defeats to Brighton and sworn rivals Liverpool. They have been hit with several injuries, which Erik ten Hag has cited as mitigating circumstances.

But will he have some players back for the must-win game against Southampton? Let's take a look at some of the injury news and potential return dates.

Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes allayed concerns that he would be sidelined for a while by stating, "[It was] just a little bump," after the game against Scotland. He’s flying into Manchester today and will be assessed, with a high possibility of being available this weekend.

Mason Mount

Mount suffered an injury against Brighton and missed the Liverpool game. The former Chelsea man has had a tough time since moving from London to Manchester. This season is crucial for him, as he has lost his spot in the England team and is increasingly not a key player for United. The injury is reportedly a minor muscle problem, with Mount taking to social media to inform fans after the injury was confirmed. This weekend's game might come too soon for him, but he’s likely to be ready by the end of the month, meaning he will definitely miss the next two games.

Luke Shaw

The England international probably shouldn't have gone to the Euros, given his fitness issues. Shaw's importance to the team is undeniable, but he wasn’t fully fit and didn’t play a pivotal role. He has not kicked a ball for United since then, and his pre-season knock meant he had to undergo further rehabilitation. He has been spotted at Carrington, and it will be interesting to see if he can at least be part of the squad against Southampton this weekend. One thing is certain though—he’s back on the grass.

Leny Yoro

Signed for £52 million in the summer, Yoro fractured his metatarsal and had surgery in August. The estimated recovery time is around three months, so don’t expect him back until after the cold weather sets in. This weekend’s game is definitely not happening for him. The injury is a massive blow for the young Frenchman, as he will need time to adapt, having missed a significant portion of pre-season due to the injury.

Victor Lindelöf

There is no clear timeframe for the 30-year-old’s return. He missed his country’s Nations League game during this international break. This must be a frustrating period for the defender, as he suffered a similar toe injury last season and missed large parts of it. Ten Hag has emphasized how injuries have impacted the season, and Lindelöf’s situation is another example of the challenges of managing a squad.

Tyrell Malacia

The Dutch winger missed the entire last season due to an ACL injury. He was close to returning but then suffered a setback, leading to an absolute nightmare situation. Signed as one of the most promising young talents, Malacia has endured a difficult 18 months and isn’t even training on the grass at the time of writing this piece.

Rasmus Højlund

The young Danish striker picked up a hamstring injury during a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in the United States and was expected to miss six weeks as a result. Ahead of the defeat to Liverpool, Ten Hag told reporters that Højlund would be back “after the international break,” but he also sounded a note of caution, suggesting that “he has to build some fitness.” The original six-week timeframe implies that he might have a chance of facing Southampton, but Ten Hag’s comments suggest he would be unlikely to play a full 90 minutes straight away.