Man United suffer ANOTHER blow as Noussair Mazraoui is forced off injured on Morocco duty – days after star man Bruno Fernandes pulled out of Portugal squad with ‘complicated’ shin problem

Manchester United’s injury woes over the international break continued on Tuesday night as Noussair Mazraoui was forced off during Morocco’s 2-0 win over Lesotho.

Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes was forced to pull out of Portugal’s squad to play Norway at the weekend with what his manager Jorge Jesus described as a ‘complicated’ shin problem, in the latest injury blow to Manchester United.

Michael Carrick, who was already without key first-team players Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko and Patrick Dorgu before Fernandes’ injury, will now be sweating over Noussair Mazraoui’s availability after the full-back hobbled off against Lesotho. 

As the Moroccan dived in for a tackle in the 68th minute of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, he landed awkwardly and immediately signalled towards the bench, appearing in a lot of discomfort.

After holding his lower back in pain, Mazraoui managed to sit upright before being assessed by medical staff and eventually left the field, with Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi replacing him. 

England duo Rashford and Mainoo were both forced to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s Nations League squad last week after picking up minor injuries during United’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Fulham before the international break.

While Carrick will hope the pair are available to face Spurs in United’s next match at Old Trafford on October 10, there are concerns over Fernandes’ fitness after Portugal boss Jesus admitted he has been ‘playing with pain’ since the start of the season.

‘In the game against Wales, we went in with all the available players but Bruno Fernandes came off with a complicated problem,’ he said during Portugal’s press conference on Saturday, before the United captain withdrew from the squad.

‘We’ll see what happens until tomorrow. Experience tells me that on the third day not all players manage to recover but that’s the same for Norway as for us. However, the player who comes in gives as many guarantees as the one who might come off, that’s what I’ll base my decision on.

‘The medical team identified these two players as the most concerning, Nuno Mendes could be available for the game.

‘The other case [Fernandes] involves treatment and recovery time. He’s coming off an injury at United, and he told me he’s been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him.

‘It was one of the factors that prevented Bruno from playing at his best against Wales.’

Carrick has endured a difficult start to the season since being appointed Manchester United’s permanent manager in the summer, winning just once in five matches despite facing Fulham, who were bottom of the league before hosting the Red Devils, as well as newly promoted sides Hull City and Ipswich Town. 

After a slow start, Carrick faces a huge eight days when his players return from international duty in October, with bottom-of-the-table Tottenham, Champions League stalwarts Atletico Madrid and fierce rivals Leeds United all awaiting the Red Devils during that period.