£40m transfer, Zirkzee role, Rashford out - How Man United could line up amid four injury concerns

The curse of injuries continues to plague Manchester United, and Erik ten Hag would be forgiven if he had a familiar sinking feeling in his stomach. Not even a 3-2 win over Real Betis can sugarcoat this one.

Two of the most exciting players in the United squad have been confirmed as having picked up injuries overnight on Wednesday/Thursday that will see them miss the start of the season. For Leny Yoro, his competitive debut will be delayed until October at the earliest, whilst Rasmus Hojlund is looking at mid-September in a best-case scenario for his return.

Both players were expected to be pillars of Ten Hag's side throughout the upcoming 2024/25 campaign despite their age - Yoro is 18 and Hojlund is still just 21 - but will now leave an initial hole in the squad. It comes as an even bigger blow for those involved given just how much effort has been spent so far this summer bolstering the options in those positions.

READ MORE: United vs Betis HIGHLIGHTS

READ MORE: United give Yoro and Hojlund injury updates in huge double blow

Yoro was the first of a potential three big additions at centre-back, while Hojlund had seen Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos go out and purchase Joshua Zirkzee to compete for the No.9 spot. Their absences over the coming weeks and months will ask further questions of the transfer demands and plans at Old Trafford.

However, in the grand scheme of things, not too much will change. United are still keen to add at least one more centre-back to their squad, and that could become two depending on outgoings, while Zirkzee has already arrived but will simply have to shoulder more of the burden than previously anticipated.

It was only 12 months ago, when Hojlund was signed himself, that the club learned