Blow for Manchester United as key defender remains doubtful for Premier League tie

Manchester United could be without key defender Noussair Mazraoui for Saturday's Premier League clash against Brentford.

The Moroccan missed Thursday's training session with the Red Devils, sparking speculation that the Moroccan international is dealing with a physical issue that might rule him out of the weekend fixture.

In his place, Sam Mather was called up to the first-team training squad. The Englishman was utilized as a right wing-back during drills, naturally filling Mazraoui's position.

There has been no official confirmation from Manchester United regarding a potential injury, but his presumed absence from Thursday's session suggests he is suffering from a minor ailment.

Mazraoui missed Manchester United's first three matches of the season due to a muscle problem sustained in the team's first pre-season friendly against Leeds United.

Despite this, the 27-year-old came off the bench against Burnley on August 30th, before being named in the starting lineup against Manchester City and Chelsea in the English top flight.

The defender has been a vital player for Manchester United since his arrival from Bayern Munich in August 2024, having made 60 appearances for the Red Devils and contributing three assists.

Good news for Manchester United comes with the recovery of Diogo Dalot. The Portuguese international has returned to training after a muscle issue.

Dalot could feature at right wing-back if Mazraoui is unavailable, especially as Amad Diallo struggled in that area of the pitch during the 2025-26 campaign.