Man Utd faces serious crisis as its a major boost for conventry

Manchester United’s defensive crisis has deepened following the news Raphael Varane will miss several weeks with a muscle injury.

That rules the France international out of the FA Cup semi-final with Coventry City on Sunday week – a match in which the Sky Blues are just 90 minutes away from their first FA Cup final since 1987.

The Red Devils have had huge injury problems at the back all season, with Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof currently on the sidelines, while Varane and Jonny Evans missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The situation has been acute at centre back and even more so at left back where Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have both missed most of the season.

Varane and Evans will miss the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday evening, with the former also ruled out at Wembley.

United said in a statement: “Raphael Varane will be out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury sustained during our game against Chelsea last week. The French World Cup winner is aiming to be back in action before the end of the season in May.

“Fellow centre-back Jonny Evans will also miss Saturday’s game against Bournemouth with a shorter-term muscle issue.”

Harry Maguire and teenager Willy Kambwala look set to start as the centre-back pairing again at Bournemouth, while it is being wondered whether Varane has made his last appearance for the Red Devils with his contract due to end in the summer.

The FA Cup is United’s final chance at a piece of silverware this season, with pressure increasing on manager Erik ten Hag. The Sky Blues meanwhile still harbour hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs for a second successive season and face Birmingham City at St Andrew’s at the weekend.