Manchester United’s injury crisis deteriorated in front of her Europa League round of 16 strokes with a real sociedad, with Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire excluded from the trip to northern Spain.
Ugarte and Maguire both suffered during the Fa Cup excretion of the weekend by Fulham and were both considered doubt for the middle of the week.
None of the players were seen during the training session on Wednesday, and their respective absence in the game was then confirmed when an 18-player tourist was named without them.
The teams are allowed to include up to 23 players in the UEFA competitions up to 23 players, but underlines the severity of the current injury crisis that up to five places will remain free in Anoeta on Thursday evening.
In addition to Maguire and Ugarte, both of whom would probably have started, United, Ruben Amorim is without Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and goalkeeper Alty Bayindir and Tom Heaton.
Striker Chido Obi is not entitled to the Europa League this season. United did not register him for her later phases – he hadn’t given his competitive debut when the list had to be submitted and Amad was still fit at that time.
The silver strip is that Toby Colly, the academy, has returned to the fold in a good shape before an injury in January and is part of the group to San Sebastian.
But with a matchday squad that is so reduced, Amorim will only have a few ways to call from the bank – three of the five available available are only 11 appearances in senior football between you.
Goalkeeper: Andre Onana, Dermot Mee, Elyh Harrison.
Defender: Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu, Victor Lindelof, Nussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass.
Midfielder: Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Toby Collyer.
Forward: Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee.