Manchester United return to action on Thursday evening as they take on Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. The match presents manager Ruben Amorim with an opportunity to reverse the team’s recent fortunes following consecutive Premier League defeats. Losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have left United struggling in 13th place in the domestic league. In the Europa League, the Red Devils find themselves in 12th position, having accumulated nine points from their opening five matches.
Here’s a breakdown of Manchester United’s current injury concerns and suspensions ahead of their trip to the Czech Republic.
### Injury Updates
**Jonny Evans**
– **Status:** Major doubt
– **Injury:** Unspecified
– **Expected return:** December 12 (vs. Viktoria Plzen)
Evans has not played since Amorim’s managerial debut against Ipswich Town. He remains a significant doubt for Thursday’s game due to an unspecified injury. His absence has been a concern for United, as the team’s defensive options continue to be limited.
**Toby Collyer**
– **Status:** Out
– **Injury:** Muscle
– **Expected return:** Unknown
Collyer has been sidelined with a muscular problem since mid-September and is not yet ready to return. The 20-year-old midfielder has yet to make his mark under Amorim, and his ongoing unavailability is another setback for the squad.
**Luke Shaw**
– **Status:** Out
– **Injury:** Hamstring
– **Expected return:** Unknown
Shaw had only recently recovered from a calf injury when he suffered a hamstring issue, ruling him out for several weeks. The England international has expressed frustration at the recurring nature of his injuries. Manager Ruben Amorim has reassured Shaw of his support during this challenging time.
**Victor Lindelof**
– **Status:** Out
– **Injury:** Groin
– **Expected return:** Unknown
Lindelof sustained a groin injury during the November international break, leaving him unavailable for selection in recent matches. However, the Swedish defender has returned to training and could be included in the traveling squad for this fixture, depending on his fitness level.
### Suspensions
Manchester United have no players suspended for the match against Viktoria Plzen, allowing Amorim to focus solely on managing injuries and formulating a strategy for the game.
### Recent Form and Predicted Lineup
United’s recent form has been underwhelming. They suffered a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing, a game that highlighted the team’s defensive vulnerabilities. Despite Rasmus Højlund’s first-half equaliser, Forest managed to score twice after the break. A late goal from Bruno Fernandes was not enough to salvage a point.
Key defenders Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof are unlikely to feature, which leaves Amorim with a challenging task to organize a makeshift defense.
**Predicted lineup:**
Onana (GK), De Ligt, Dalot, Martínez, Yoro, Fernandes, Ugarte, Mainoo, Garnacho, Diallo, Højlund.
