Manchester United vs Reading: Alexis Sanchez injury 'hopefully' not serious, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Sanchez made his first start in two months having recovered from a recent hamstring injury

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Saturday 05 January 2019 16:48 GMT
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's career in numbers

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful that Alexis Sanchez’s injury is not serious after the Manchester United forward was brought off in the 2-0 win against Reading.

Sanchez made his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury on Saturday but was substituted midway through the second half clutching at his leg.

Solskajer confirmed that Sanchez left the pitch with a slight hamstring issue but hopes he will able to select the Chilean for next weekend’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

“Hopefully OK,” he said, when asked about Sanchez’s condition. “He was feeling his hamstring but he should have told me one minute before because I made two subs. Hopefully he’ll be OK for next weekend.

“I think maybe he’s happy that he got through 60 minutes. Hopefully he won’t be too bad. He’s been out a month now, he’s had 20 minutes against Newcastle, half an hour maybe. Now he’s had 60 minutes, so it’s about building up again.”

Sanchez did not score on his return to the starting line-up but set up United’s second for Romelu Lukaku, who also making his first start of the Solskjaer era.

“You know the quality [Sanchez] has,” Solskjaer said. “I think maybe when he gets another few games under his belt, he would have finished a little bit earlier on in the first half.

“He had one touch too many, could have finished when he was driving through the box, so he’ll be fine.”

The trip to Wembley to face Tottenham next Sunday will be considered the first real test of Solskjaer’s tenure to date, following five consecutive victories against sides United were expected to beat.

The Norwegian has enjoyed success with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial starting as a front three but did not rule out Sanchez and Lukaku breaking the template next Sunday.

“Everyone’s considered and it’s down to what tactics we decide, who does well, who’s fit when they come to Sunday and they are now getting the fitness work in,” he said.

“I know they’re quality players. Rom’s scored three in three now, two as a sub and today as a starter. It was a fantastic goal constructed by the two of them.”

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