Manchester United face few Wembley options as they scramble to fill defensive gap

This time last week, United had a full-strength centre-back pair available heading into the season's most pivotal moment. Fast-forward to today and Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are both now out for the foreseeable future, after both sustained injuries on the same night against Sevilla.

Varane went off at half-time and will miss a couple of weeks but should return for the final few games. Meanwhile Martinez won’t return until pre-season as he fractured his fifth metatarsal.

Therefore, coupled with Harry Maguire’s FA Cup suspension, Erik ten Hag’s side have been left laughably short at the back ahead of the semi-final against a team Pep Guardiola has heaped with praise. Guardiola called the Seagulls the “best in the world” at build-up play, and this added to their frightening attack is a major cause of concern for United.

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With Victor Lindelöf’s inclusion a shoo-in, Ten Hag will have to think outside of the box to fill the gap. Phil Jones who is somehow still at the club, isn’t an option according to The Athletic due to the fact he has been unable to complete a training session all season.

This begs the question, who will fill in as a makeshift partner for the Swedish international come Sunday? Here are four possible wildcard solutions to Ten Hag’s predicament.

Casemiro has filled in at centre-back before this season, in the fourth round of the League Cup against Burnley and while he helped keep a clean sheet, Brighton may be a step too far. Casemiro also will be of better use to Ten Hag in his native position of defensive midfield, especially with the stacked and talented midfield on Brighton.

Luke Shaw would be many people’s favoured option to