Amorim Delivers Crucial Injury Verdict on Star Trio Cunha, Maguire, and Sesko
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has revealed that Matheus Cunha, Harry Maguire, and Benjamin Šeško will all miss Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace, though each injured player faces a different timeline for their comeback.
The Red Devils saw their five-match undefeated streak come to an end in humiliating fashion on Monday evening, as 10-man Everton secured just their third victory at Old Trafford since the Premier League began.
New recruit Cunha was missing from the loss after sustaining a head knock during training sessions before the match. Questions about his availability arose when it emerged that Cunha had withdrawn from a scheduled public event due to a "training ground incident."
The Brazilian became Man Utd's initial summer acquisition, arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £62.5 million ($82.7 million) transfer. Though the versatile attacker has shown flashes of the quality he displayed at Molineux, his Manchester debut campaign has been somewhat quiet. Across 11 outings this term, Cunha has managed only one goal contribution.
Nevertheless, his knack for creating magic from nowhere was sorely missed against a resolute Everton backline, with Amorim's team resorting to speculative deliveries in their attempts to unlock the visitors' defense.
The nature of Sunday's encounter away at Crystal Palace will likely differ, but Amorim has stated that Cunha will continue his recovery this weekend. Speaking openly during his pre-match media briefing, the Portuguese coach informed reporters, "Matheus the next one [game], not this one."
Thankfully, the Brazilian international's return won't be far away. Man Utd face midweek Premier League action on Thursday evening, hosting West Ham United at Old Trafford.
'More Time' Needed for Maguire, Sesko
While Cunha could return next week, Maguire and Šeško will require additional recovery time before rejoining the squad. Amorim has indicated that both players need "more time" to overcome their current fitness issues.
Maguire picked up a thigh problem during the 2–2 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, while Šeško damaged his knee in the closing stages of that same eventful encounter. The Slovenian forward is still adapting to life at Old Trafford—defensive midfielder Casemiro currently has more goals this campaign—but Maguire's extended layoff represents a major setback for the Red Devils.
The imposing defensive stalwart provides aerial dominance in both penalty areas that no other squad member can replicate. Questions remain about Maguire's future prospects at the club—speculation suggests a potential pursuit of Palace's Marc Guéhi next summer to succeed his England colleague, who also faces contract expiry in June—yet Amorim remains eager to utilize his current center-back this season, fitness permitting.