Manchester United are set to go without new £52million signing Leny Yoro for the first three matches of the season following his injury blow against Arsenal on Sunday, according to reports.
Yoro started against the Gunners at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, his second pre-season appearance after featuring in a 2-0 win over Rangers in Edinburgh on July 20.
But the 18-year-old centre-back was forced off just 35 minutes into the 2-1 defeat after pulling up on the astroturf pitch, with Rhys Bennett replacing him.
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His withdrawal followed Rasmus Hojlund, who was struck with a hamstring problem just six minutes after firing United into an early lead.
Gabriel Jesus levelled the score later in the first half and Gabriel Martinelli netted an 81st-minute winner before the Red Devils triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out.
However, the double disaster stole the headlines and marred United's preparations for a crucial first full season under the INEOS regime.
Yoro was expected to start the campaign as one of Ten Hag's first-choice centre-backs, forming a partnership with Lisandro Martinez, who appears to have overcome his own injury woes.
But the Dutchman will reportedly have to wait to utilise the talented teenager, who is primed to miss some huge early fixtures.
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According to The Sun, United are set to be without Yoro for their first three games of the new season, as well as their final two pre-season games against Real Betis and Liverpool.
If the Community Shield match against Manchester City on August 8 is included in that timeline, Yoro will miss the opening two Premier League fixtures.
United start their league campaign by hosting Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday, August 16, before travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion for the early kick-off on Saturday, August 24.
However, if it's solely Premier League games, he is also set to be absent for the blockbuster home clash against Liverpool on Sunday, September 1.
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The Frenchman's wait to make his competitive United debut could extend further than that, considering he will be low on sharpness after playing just two halves of football in pre-season.
After the grudge match against Arne Slot's Reds, United face trips to Southampton and Crystal Palace before finishing September by welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to M16.
Yoro was spotted wearing a protective boot and on crutches at UCLA earlier this week, and Ten Hag is expected to confirm his No. 15's injury timeline shortly.
United suffered 66 cases of injury or illness throughout a dismal 23/24 season, and INEOS will hope and pray that Yoro's early blow isn't a sign of things to come.
