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Manchester United left to wait on Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani injuries ahead of Newcastle

Van de Beek and Cavani missed Europa League trip due to muscular problems

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 19 February 2021 13:30 GMT
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Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani
Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani have a chance of playing against Newcastle on Sunday but face late fitness assessments.

The Manchester United pair missed Thursday's dominant 4-0 Europa League win over Real Sociedad with muscle injuries and stayed at home while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad travelled to Turin.

Scott McTominay started the last-32 tie at the Allianz Stadium despite being a pre-match doubt, but only lasted 60 minutes before being replaced by Nemanja Matic.

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United were also without Paul Pogba, who is unlikely to play again this month while recovering from a thigh injury, and long-term absentee Phil Jones.

Solskjaer hopes that Van de Beek and Cavani will be available when Newcastle visit Old Trafford on Sunday, but is unsure whether the pair will be able to recover in time.

"Paul is out, Phil is out, I don’t know how Scott is, don’t know how Edinson and Donny will be either," Solskjaer said after the final whistle on Thursday night.

"They have a chance I think. We just have to give them until before training on Saturday, because Saturday we need to pick a team so we will see how they are, hopefully they can both be available."

Solskjaer also said that he is ready to "sit down and speak" with Cavani about extending his United stay into a second season.

The Uruguayan's contract is set to expire in this summer but United have the option of automatically triggering a one-year extension.

Cavani has impressed since joining as a free agent in October, scoring six goals in 17 appearances and acting as a mentor to some of the younger players in United's squad.

"I can only say Edinson has done well," Solskjaer said.

"I’ve been impressed by him, he’s really gelled in the group and we’ll sit down and speak with him in the near future to see his plans and our plans.

"It’s a good discussion to have. We always speak to the players and with his contract situation at the moment we’re very pleased with what he’s done."

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