Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a significant team news update, confirming three key players will be unavailable for Sunday's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Confirmed Absences for Palace Trip
Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Harry Maguire have all been ruled out of the crucial away fixture. The absence of this influential trio represents a substantial blow for Amorim's side as they seek to improve their poor away form.
Cunha's issue stems from a training ground knock sustained before the disappointing defeat to Everton. While the manager remains hopeful the forward could return for next Thursday's match against West Ham, his participation at Selhurst Park has been completely dismissed.
Recovery Timelines for Key Defenders
The situation appears more concerning for both Maguire and Sesko. The experienced defender suffered a hamstring problem during the match against Tottenham before the November international break.
Sesko, the club's prominent summer striker signing, picked up a knee injury in the same fixture. Although Manchester United officials have previously downplayed the severity of his condition, Amorim admitted a comeback is not on the immediate horizon.
"Sesko is going to take a little bit more time," Amorim stated in his pre-match press conference. "It will take a little bit longer and we are taking care of him. Harry, the same. I expect to have Matheus in the next one, not this one."
Pressure Mounts on United's Away Form
These injury concerns compound what has been a difficult period for the Red Devils. The club currently languish in 10th position in the Premier League table and are on a run of three consecutive matches without a victory in the competition.
Their form away from Old Trafford presents a particularly grim picture. United have managed just a single win from their last 11 league fixtures on the road, a statistic Amorim knows must change rapidly.
The Portuguese coach openly acknowledged his team's struggle with intensity during away matches, citing specific examples where games slipped from their grasp.
"We need to show the players why we lost control against Nottingham, why we lost control against Tottenham, so if you look at those games, they were there to win," Amorim analysed. "Sometimes a small detail can change anything. I've felt the intensity at home has been higher. But against Everton, it was not on the same level."
He emphasised the need for collective improvement, adding, "I think it's something we need to work on, so it's hard to point why we aren't winning away. There are a lot of issues we are improving and we need to know how to finish the games to win."
The challenge at Selhurst Park is formidable, with hosts Crystal Palace sitting two points above United in the table. In a boost for the Eagles, captain Marc Guehi is expected to start after being withdrawn at half-time during their midweek Conference League defeat to Strasbourg in a pre-planned substitution.
