Fears are growing that Manchester United‘s new £59million signing Leny Yoro faces a lengthy lay-off just two games into his Old Trafford career.
Three days after the 18-year-old Frenchman limped out of the defeat by Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, he was seen on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot at United’s training base.
Yoro, who only made his debut against Rangers at Murrayfield 11 days ago following his transfer from Lille, is set to miss United’s final tour game against Liverpool in South Carolina this weekend, and there are fears that he may be ruled out of the start of the season.
United face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 10 before kicking off the Premier League campaign at home to Fulham six days later.
United are expected to give an update on Yoro’s fitness later this week, but the sight of the centre-back struggling onto the team coach at the University of California campus in LA on Tuesday afternoon did not bode well at all. He suffered the injury just after the half-hour mark against Arsenal on Saturday and went off immediately after receiving treatment.
Leny Yoro was spotted on crutches with his left foot in a protective boot at the club’s base
Yoro has only played twice for the club since signing from Lille in a deal worth up to £59m
Yoro limped out of Man United’s defeat by Arsenal in Los Angeles three days ago
With Lisandro Martinez yet to resume training after playing for Argentina in the Copa America, manager Erik ten Hag could be left to choose between Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof in central defence.
However, United have been pursuing a second centre-back signing this summer having held talks with Bayern Munich over Matthijs de Ligt and seen an improved bid of £50m for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected by Everton.
There could yet be more bad news for United after Rasmus Hojlund also limped out of the Arsenal game in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. However, Hojlund seemed to be moving relatively freely after the match and it’s hoped that his injury is not too serious.
The setbacks are reminiscent of United’s problems on tour in the US last summer when Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo suffered injuries that kept them out of action until November and December respectively.
Diallo damaged knee ligaments in the opening tour game against Arsenal in New Jersey and required surgery, while Mainoo hurt his foot in the defeat by Real Madrid in Houston and did not play again for another four months.
