Six players to miss Manchester United vs Fulham clash

Manchester United’s season has swung on fine margins in recent weeks as the race for Champions League qualification tightens with every round of Premier League fixtures.

Momentum has finally begun to build at Old Trafford, yet the physical toll of a congested schedule is starting to show at the worst possible time.

Injuries have already shaped key moments of United’s campaign, forcing constant reshuffles and testing squad depth across multiple positions.

With confidence returning and belief growing among supporters, fitness rather than form is suddenly emerging as the biggest concern.

That concern now looms large ahead of a weekend clash that could define United’s top-four ambitions.

Manchester United head into Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Fulham buoyed by a dramatic 3-2 victory over Arsenal, a result that lifted them into fourth place and continued Michael Carrick’s perfect start since stepping in for Ruben Amorim.

The win at the Emirates Stadium made it two wins from two for Carrick and has raised optimism around Old Trafford, but it may have come at a cost after Patrick Dorgu limped off with what was a hamstring injury despite scoring a decisive goal.

United sources insist there is still no clear timeline on Patrick Dorgu recovery, with some reports suggesting the Denmark international could be sidelined for as long as ten weeks, a major blow given his growing influence.

Carrick attempted to play down fears after the Arsenal match by suggesting the issue could merely be cramp, although the early signs point towards a more serious concern ahead of the Fulham encounter.

Joshua Zirkzee is another doubt after missing United’s last two matches with an unspecified injury that was initially expected to rule him out for around a fortnight, casting uncertainty over his availability this weekend.

Matthijs de Ligt, meanwhile, has been absent since November with a back problem and although he is edging closer to a return, Carrick confirmed there was a recent setback before expressing hope he would be back soon.

Fulham arrive at Old Trafford with injury frustrations of their own, as Rodrigo Muniz, Kenny Tete and Sasa Lukic are all sidelined with hamstring injuries, leaving Marco Silva short of options in both defence and midfield.

With both sides carrying notable absentees, Sunday’s clash may hinge on which squad copes best with adversity, as United look to protect their league position while Fulham attempt to upset the momentum despite their mounting injury list.