Man United dealt massive blow as key midfielder Eriksen ruled out for three months with ankle injury
Manchester United’s plans for the rest of the season have been dealt a blow after midfielder Christian Eriksen was potentially ruled out until May with an ankle injury.
The 30-year-old picked up the knock following a dreadful challenge by Andy Carroll during United’s 3-1 FA Cup win against Reading on Saturday.
Eriksen has become a key player since moving to Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer, making 31 appearances in all competitions.
United said in a statement that he will be out for an “extended period” following the tackle by Carroll, who was later sent off, and that “initial assessments indicate that Eriksen is likely to be out until late April or early May”.
“Of course, he’s disappointed, we are disappointed, but it happens in top football. You have to deal with it,” said manager Erik ten Hag, speaking ahead of United’s League Cup semi-final second-leg against Nottingham Forest today.
“We have players in the midfield department, good players and we have players who can fill the gap. I think you can never fill that gap because every player has his own characteristics, identification, another player will always fill in a different way.
“But it doesn’t mean you have to be less successful. It’s quite clear Christian brings top quality to our squad and he has some specifics that are hard to replace, such as his impacts in the final third with his final ball.”
United have already lost Donny van de Beek for the remainder of the campaign but, despite the severity of Eriksen’s injury, Ten Hag seemed to rule out bringing in a midfielder before the end of yesterday’s transfer deadline.
“On deadline day it’s difficult,” Ten Hag said.
“You can’t make policy on such bad injuries.”
Scott McTominay was absent for the match against Reading and injured Eriksen was replaced by substitute Fred, who produced a solid display and scored with an audacious flick.
“He’s playing together with Casemiro in the Brazilian squad,” Ten Hag said of Fred.
“I would say that’s not the worst squad in the world.
“They have so many choices that they can make but they often prefer to play them together so that tells something about the quality Fred has and what he can contribute to the team.
“He did it several times. When I see his performance, for instance, against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, when he’s coming on last game he scores a goal.
“He has a lot of qualities. I think they are a really good combination, Casemiro and Fred together.”
Ten Hag’s side head into today’s meeting against Forest leading 3-0 from the first leg, when Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes helped put United firmly in the driving seat for a final spot at Wembley.
Manager Erik ten Hag says he is disappointed by the player’s layoff but that he has enough cover in his squad to fill the gap