Manchester United have had a difficult start to the 2023/24 season, as Erik ten Hag looks to make strides in the increasingly difficult task of lifting the historic club back to its former glory.
Sitting 10th in the Premier League standings heading into the international break, Man United fans were concerned by the fitness of a host of key players on duty with their respective countries.
With a string of first-team players sidelined due to injury concerns, including the majority of the club’s senior defenders, any additional to players in the international window will only compound United’s problems.
An injury has cropped up for Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, and while it does not seem terribly serious, he will be missing time regardless.
The Sporting News has the latest on what is known about Casemiro’s ankle injury suffered while on international duty with Brazil, and when he could return for Manchester United with key games on the horizon.
MORE: Premier League table, standings as Man United lag behind other big EPL clubs
Casemiro ankle injury news, updates for Man United
On duty for the Brazil national team during the October international break, Casemiro was withdrawn from their first game against Venezuela in the 79th minute with an ankle injury, and there were questions about his fitness for the ensuing match against Uruguay.
“He asked to come off due to a blow to his ankle,” said Brazil manager Fernando Diniz after the game.
However, Casemiro was considered fit enough to start that match, a 2-0 defeat for Brazil and their first World Cup qualifying loss in 15 years. He played the full 90 minutes but has since decided that rest and recovery is needed before returning to club action.
Manchester United confirmed that Casemiro will remain in Brazil for a few extra days before returning to the club, meaning he will miss the coming weekend’s match against Sheffield United.
His status beyond that, however, is unclear at this stage.
United say Casemiro is out for the Sheffield United game and is staying in Brazil to recover from a ‘small issue’. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 19, 2023
When is Casemiro back? Manchester derby a possibility
While Casemiro will miss out on Man United’s first match back from the international break against Sheffield United, he’s expected to return shortly.
The midfielder is likely to make his way back to England soon, and according to Sky Sports, he should resume training at Carrington “early next week” in the hopes of proving fit for action against Manchester City on October 29.
It’s unclear, however, whether he will be ready to take the field at home against FC Copenhagen in Champions League group-stage play on October 24, and given the above return date, it feels unlikely that he will participate in that match.