Erik ten Hag provides Jonny Evans injury update after Copenhagen clash

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has admitted that he is unsure of the extent of the injury that Jonny Evans suffered against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The 35-year-old was released from Leicester City at the end of June and started pre-season training with the Red Devils in July while he assessed his options for the new campaign.

Ten Hag and his coaching staff are believed to have been highly impressed with the Northern Ireland international's ability and leadership qualities, which led to him being involved in pre-season and then ultimately signing a contract for the 2023-24 campaign.

Evans was thought to be strictly back-up this term, but he has been a regular, featuring on eight occasions in all competitions, recently being selected ahead of Raphael Varane.

The experienced defender was named in the starting XI against Copenhagen on Wednesday in what his first Champions League appearance for a decade.

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However, he was forced off the field in just the 15th minute of the contest in Denmark after picking up what appeared to be a muscular issue.

Man United already have Lisandro Martinez out until at least Christmas following a second foot operation this year, while there is currently uncertainty surrounding Varane's future.

The ex-France international has recently been overlooked for starts, and he struggled against Copenhagen after replacing Evans, with the Red Devils ultimately suffering a 4-3 defeat.

Varane is currently being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in January, but any deal is likely to depend on the severity of Evans's injury, which Ten Hag is unsure of at this stage of proceedings.

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The Man United head coach has said that it was "a pity" to see Evans leave the field, with the centre-back playing a key role in the team's "composed" start to the match.

"I'm not sure in this moment. He has to come off. I think it was a pity because he was part of it from that good part in the game where we were controlling, very composed and calm, it's the way I see my team," Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday night.

"Yeah, but he had to come off and I think still we are in control, still we are leading. So we have to see how bad it is. It's not about 11 players. We have more players and we have good players, so we have good replacements to solve that."

The injury has made Evans a major doubt for Saturday's Premier League contest with Luton Town, but Victor Lindelof was back on the bench against Copenhagen following an illness.

Harry Maguire is likely to retain his spot in the middle this weekend, with Ten Hag therefore expected to choose between Lindelof and Varane for the other centre-back position.