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Manchester United travel to the West Midlands on Sunday with the aim of closing the gap on Aston Villa in the Premier League table to five points.
Unai Emery’s men, who currently sit fourth and in a Champions League qualification spot, have been a revelation this season but lost their year-long unbeaten home record last week, falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United.
It was their first top-flight reverse since the memorable Boxing Day fixture at Old Trafford, when United came back from two goals down to win 3-2.
The Reds have welcomed several first-team players back from injury in the intervening six weeks, but Lisandro Martinez has returned to the treatment table after injuring his knee against West Ham United on Sunday.
Licha will unfortunately be out for at least eight weeks but we do have other options in central defence.
Harry Maguire partnered Martinez during our victory over the Hammers, while Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof – the latter returning after two months out with a groin issue – came on as substitutes.
Sofyan Amrabat was back in the matchday squad following his Africa Cup of Nations exploits with Morocco, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is thought to be the next Red in line for a return.
The right-back hasn’t featured since the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur due to a leg injury, but Erik ten Hag suggested he is on his way back and only just missed out on facing the Hammers at the weekend.
Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount are back training on the grass individually, but Anthony Martial is undergoing rehabilitation following groin surgery and is not expected to feature until April.
90 in 20: United v Aston Villa Video
90 in 20: United v Aston Villa
90 in 20 | Watch the extended highlights from United’s final Old Trafford outing of 2023…
VILLA TEAM NEWS
Sunday’s hosts will also be without a key defender, as Ezri Konsa sprained his knee during their 5-0 away thrashing of Sheffield United.
Konsa, who was called up by England for the first time in the autumn, has started all 23 of his club’s top-flight games this term, but now joins Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia and Jhon Duran on Emery’s list of absentees.
Diogo Carlos and Clement Lenglet could partner up at the back, as they did at Old Trafford, although Pau Torres is angling for a return after injury, as is full-back Lucas Digne, who hasn’t played since injuring himself during our 26 December encounter.
Villa face Chelsea at home tonight (Wednesday), in an Emirates FA Cup fourth-round replay, and there could be further updates on their squad after that game.
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