Manchester United injury crisis deepens as Raphael Varane out for a month but Rasmus Høylund could make his debut

United have said they expect Rafael Varane to return within six weeks. Credit: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

Manchester United have suffered another major blow. Blow through injury: Rafael Varane faces an absence of around a month as problems pile up with manager Erik ten Hag.

Varane's absence effectively rules out any prospect of England defender Harry Maguire leaving Old Trafford before transfer deadline on Friday.

Fellow centre-back Johnny Evans, who signed a short-term contract this summer since leaving Leicester as a free agent at the end of last season, is set to sign a one-year deal.

United have said they expect Varane will return in less than six weeks as the France central midfielder joins fellow defenders Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia and midfielders Mason Mount and Cobby Maine on the treatment table.

United didn't. clarified the exact nature of Varan's injury.

Photos United released on Tuesday after training showed no sign of Rasmus Hølund's new signing, but the Danish striker is believed to have been involved in training and was not the only player missing from the photo.

< p>The Dane has yet to play for United after a £72m move from Atalanta earlier this month due to a back injury, but he could play against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Last Friday, he took part in his first full training session with the team.

United fans are still waiting for the arrival of Rasmus Høilund within the team. Credit: Getty Images/Matthew Peters

20-year-old Hojlund has not yet been publicly assigned a team number, but his and final team numbers are to be confirmed once the transfer window closes.

Show ruled out due to muscle injury until around November. , Malasia unable to return due to knee ligament injury, Mount out for six weeks due to hamstring complaints and Mainoo once again long-term suspended, Varan's injury is an untimely blow for Ten Hag.

The former Real Madrid defender was sent off at half-time in Saturday's 3-2 return win over Nottingham Forest, and subsequent scans and assessments have confirmed he will be out for at least a few weeks.

United are in outside the game.

United are due to face Brighton in their first game since the international break on 16 September.

The 30-year-old Varane has averaged just 23 league starts in his first two seasons at Old Trafford since joining from Real Madrid for £43m and their newest player. The injury is the latest in a series of problems he's faced since arriving and further undermines the defense.

Shaw averaged just 19 Premier League starts in nine full seasons at United, another reflection of the club's injury problems over the years.

United are in talks with Chelsea about Mark Cucurella's lease, as Ten Haeg is looking for. emergency cover at left-back.

The United manager would also like to add another midfielder, but that could depend on leaving and time is running out.

Altay Baindyr is due to arrive. in a £4.3 million move from Fenerbahçe as a substitute goalkeeper to Andre Onana, while Dean Henderson moved to Crystal Palace. United's third goalkeeper Tom Heaton is currently injured.

Ten Hag admitted last week that United need to find answers to all injuries. Christian Eriksen said there was too much travel during the club's US pre-season tour and the quick turn of events this summer followed for many a 62-game marathon season last time.

«It's up to us. Spend research to find the causes, and maybe you can learn from this for the future,” Ten Hag said.