In a significant setback for Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund may miss the crucial Champions League match against Galatasaray, adding to the injury concerns as Christian Eriksen faces a month-long absence. The Red Devils, currently on the verge of elimination in Group H, are anxiously awaiting the return of the 20-year-old Hojlund, who sustained a muscle strain during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Luton.
Despite Hojlund's impressive record of five goals in four Champions League appearances for the club, United is facing a precarious situation ahead of their visit to Istanbul on November 29. The hope is that Hojlund will recover before the end of the month to bolster United's chances in the competition.
Eriksen, who was forced to exit the same game early, will be sidelined for an extended period due to a knee problem. Both players have withdrawn from Denmark's squad for the final two Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovenia and Northern Ireland. The Danish team, semifinalists at Euro 2020, requires a maximum of two points to secure qualification for the upcoming tournament in Germany.
In a statement on Monday, United confirmed, "Christian has a knee injury that is set to keep him out for around a month, while striker Rasmus suffered a muscle strain. It is hoped he will return before the end of November." Manager Erik ten Hag has cited a significant list of injuries, including the absence of defenders Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, as well as influential midfielder Casemiro, contributing to United's underwhelming performances this season.
Currently positioned sixth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Manchester City, United faces an even more precarious situation in the Champions League with three defeats in four games in Group A. A loss to Galatasaray would seal their exit, while a draw would necessitate a victory against Bayern Munich in their final match to have any chance of progressing to the last 16.