Manchester United have been handed another new injury concern during the international break as their high-profile clashes with Manchester City and Chelsea loom.
Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim is already anxiously awaiting updates on the fitness of both summer signing Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, each of whom were forced off during Saturday’s 3-2 win over newly-promoted Burnley in the Premier League at Old Trafford.
Amorim said after that last-gasp first victory of the season sealed by Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time penalty that he was unsure as to the severity of those injuries, though Cunha subsequently pulled out of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for their final 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia.
Now United can add Diogo Dalot to their list of injury worries after the versatile full-back withdrew from Portugal duty on Thursday ahead of matches against Armenia and Hungary.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed that Dalot had complained of “muscle discomfort” and been subsequently released from Roberto Martinez’s squad by Portugal’s health and performance unit, with former Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares - now of Lazio - called up as a replacement ahead of Saturday’s trip to Yerevan.
Dalot will now return to Manchester United to undergo further assessment, having started two of their three Premier League matches so far this season - coming off the bench early in the second half in the other - in addition to the Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby.
Amorim will be hoping that Dalot, Cunha and Mount can all return quickly, with some huge fixtures looming quickly after the international break.
United make the short trip to face City in the latest instalment of the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium next weekend, before then hosting Chelsea at Old Trafford on September 20. They also meet Liverpool at Anfield in October.
Addressing fans after his own injury scare against Burnley, Cunha wrote on Instagram: “What an incredible environment, it’s great to be here. I’ll be back soon, always with joy and gratitude. Thanks for all the messages.”
Asked about Cunha and Mount after the Burnley game, Amorim - also without long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez at present - said: “It was hard to lose Cunha and Mason Mount, because Mason Mount played 30 minutes with an injury.
“I’m concerned about that, because they are so important for us. We will see.
“I don’t know [how they are], I don’t know. We will check them. We need those guys really bad to be really competitive.”
