Raphael Varane’s ankle injury is not expected to keep the Manchester United defender sidelined for a long-term period.
Varane sustained the injury in the first-half of United’s 6-3 hammering by City with the scoreline only 1-0. Varane was then off the pitch for the corner Erling Haaland scored from as he had received treatment.
The 29-year-old limped off in the 40th minute with United 3-0 down but did not go straight down the tunnel. Sources have described Varane’s injury as “not bad” but the club are cautious after the Frenchman’s injury-blighted first season.
Varane drove himself into United’s Carrington training complex on Monday and manager Erik ten Hag will clarify on Wednesday if he is available to travel to Cyprus for the Europa League group stage game against Omonia Nicosia on Thursday.
Ten Hag said Varane would not have been able to continue if the scoreline was tighter. “I don’t think he would’ve carried on but, I must say, I had to get him off because when you are 4-0 down you don’t want to take a risk to get a bigger injury. He couldn’t carry on.”
Victor Lindelof replaced Varane at the Etihad for only his second club appearance of the season and United now have four centre-backs injured.
Harry Maguire missed the derby with a thigh injury while Axel Tuanzebe’s absence was described by Ten Hag as “long-term”.
Phil Jones was omitted from United’s Premier League and Europa League squads and can only play in the domestic cup competitions. United host Aston Villa in the League Cup third round on November 10.
Lindelof could start alongside Lisandro Martinez in Nicosia and United travel to Everton on Sunday.
