(Reuters) – Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will be absent from Saturday’s Premier League match against Fulham due to an injury sustained during Wednesday’s 3-0 League Cup defeat against Newcastle United, according to manager Erik ten Hag.
After his team’s elimination from the knockout competition, the Brazilian international was substituted by Sofyan Amrabat at half-time.
Ten Hag stated, “Just before half-time, he got an injury. That’s why we had to take him off,” without providing details about the nature of the injury.
During a post-match press conference, he mentioned, “We have to wait 24 hours, but I think definitely for Saturday he’s out.”
Defensive midfield player Casemiro, who plays a key role for the club, suffered an ankle injury last month while representing Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
Although he was deemed fit to play against Uruguay five days later, the club made a decision to exclude him from the trip to Sheffield United to assist in his recovery.
The 31-year-old’s most recent injury occurs prior to Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and champions Argentina in mid-November.
Ten Hag expressed uncertainty about Casemiro’s recovery for those matches.
Manchester United currently holds the eighth position in the league following their loss to Manchester City in the derby on Sunday, while Brazil ranks third in the World Cup qualifiers after drawing with Venezuela and losing to Uruguay in October.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
