Erik ten Hag provides Raphael Varane update ahead of Fulham clash

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Raphael Varane "is ready to play" against Fulham on Saturday afternoon after missing out against Newcastle United through illness.

The ex-France international was surprisingly left out of the starting side against Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend, with Ten Hag instead choosing Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the middle.

Varane was then absent against Newcastle in the EFL Cup on Wednesday due to an illness, but Ten Hag said during his press conference that the centre-back would be in the squad to take on Fulham.

Victor Lindelof, though, is a doubt for the game at Craven Cottage due to illness.

"Varane is ready to play, he will travel with the squad. Victor Lindelof has some illness and we'll have to see if he's ready for tomorrow," the Man United head coach told reporters on Friday.

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There is pressure on Ten Hag to deliver a positive result on Saturday following back-to-back 3-0 home defeats to Man City and Newcastle, with the team now losing eight times this season.

Ten Hag's future continues to be called into question, but it is understood that the Dutchman is not in any immediate danger of losing his job as head coach.

"I came here with my philosophy, based on possession, but also to combine it with the DNA of Man United, but also with the players and their character," the manager added when asked about his style of play.

"We combined it last year and we played very good football last season. I want to play from the back and we try that in every game, but like against Man City, if they are good at pressing, it's a good option to go direct. We want to press, then go direct, because we have the players who are very good at it."

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Ten Hag also dismissed claims that his side lack character, using the recent game with Brentford, where the team scored twice in second-half stoppage time to win 2-1, as an example.

"Remember the fight we showed against Brentford, If there wasn't spirit of characters in the dressing room, you couldn't do this," he said.

"They [players] are positive. They want to put this right and we know the standards here. We have to match them every day, we've had two big setbacks, but we'll fight back. The dressing room is strong, the staff are strong and this manager is strong.

"We have to win every game. We prepare very good and I'm sure the players are ready tomorrow to execute the plan."

Man United will also be missing Casemiro in the coming weeks due to a hamstring issue, while Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo remain unavailable, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka made his comeback from injury off the bench against Newcastle.