Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim hopes to have Leny Yoro available to face Arsenal on Wednesday. The highly-rated defender suffered a metatarsal fracture just weeks after sealing a £52million switch from Lille during the summer.
Yoro has not appeared for United in competitive action but could be thrown in at the deep end if he features against Arsenal. Amorim faces the biggest test of his Red Devils career so far when he visits the Emirates Stadium.
The Portuguese coach will be without Lisandro Martinez after the Argentine received his fifth yellow card of the season against Everton, while Harry Maguire has only just returned from an injury of his own. There are therefore few options available for Amorim's back three.
Yoro could appear in United's matchday squad but Amorim insists that he will be cautious with the 19-year-old's return. "We have one more training session to see it. Maybe Leny Yoro is going to be in the squad,” the 39-year-old said.
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"I felt he’s in a good moment now, his fitness is better, so I think he is going to be in the squad.
"We didn’t have too many trainings together. He’s training not alone but with a small group of players. He’s really fast but he’s a modern defender and that is good when you want to press high. I think he is a special talent but we have to be careful in this first moment.
"You have a lot of strikers, especially in this league, one against one. I think he can manage that. He’s very good with the ball so I’m really excited but we have to be careful.
"We have to manage the load and the minutes in the beginning but I’m really excited to see Leny Yoro playing. The rest, I have to see. Some players were tired so we have to assess tomorrow in training."
It was reported earlier this season that Yoro had been 'desperate' to feature against Arsenal and had targeted the match as a potential return date. The exciting Frenchman seems set to win that race after his rehabilitation programme went smoothly.
Fellow teenage star Kobbie Mainoo will not play against Arsenal, though. Like Martinez, the midfielder is banned after collecting a fifth yellow card of the campaign in the 4-0 victory over Everton. Amorim made six changes to his team ahead of that match and fans can expect further alterations to be made as he prepares for his first trip to London.
