Manchester United dealt fresh injury blow as new signing Sofyan Amrabat withdraws from Morocco squad

Sofyan Amrabat has withdrawn from the Morocco squad, dealing Manchester United a fresh injury blow.

The 27-year-old midfielder joined United on loan from Fiorentina on deadline day, with Erik ten Hag’s side paying an £8 million loan fee for the privilege. United will have the option to make Amrabat’s move permanent next summer for £21.4m.

Amrabat is yet to make his debut for the Red Devils, but - as confirmed by the Moroccan FA - has now withdrawn from national team duty due to a back problem.

United were reportedly made aware of a slight back issue during Amrabat’s medical at the club.

The midfielder is just the latest injury concern for Ten Hag, with Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane already on the treatment table. Centre-back Lisandro Martinez is also dealing with an issue and did not feature in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador on Thursday night.

United were linked with Amrabat for much of the summer after Ten Hag identified midfield as an area of his team that required strengthening.

However, Amrabat’s late arrival and injury to fellow summer recruit Mount has left United’s midfield looking threadbare again.

Amrabat is not the only signing to arrive at Old Trafford this summer in less than pristine condition, with Rasmus Hojlund not making his debut until the second half of United’s 3-1 defeat to Arenal on Sunday due to a back issue.

United are now liaising with the Denmark national team to ensure the £72m striker is not rushed back into action.

United will hope that Amrabat’s issue is not serious enough to rule him out of tough matches against Brighton (September 16) and Bayern Munich (September 20) after the international break.

The worsening injury crisis, coupled with Jadon Sancho’s public spat with Ten Hag and reports that the Glazer family are not going to sell the club despite a lengthy bidding process, has signalled a challenging early-season period for the Red Devils.

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