Just when it looked like Manchester United’s injury list couldn’t get any longer, it has.
Promising young defender Ayden Heaven has reportedly picked up a knock while on international duty with England’s Under-20 team — giving boss Ruben Amorim yet another concern ahead of the high-stakes trip to Anfield.
The 19-year-old went down early in England’s friendly defeat to Switzerland at St. George’s Park on Friday and needed medical attention before playing out the first half.
He was replaced at halftime, with coach Ben Futcher confirming afterward that the player “picked something up.”
Futcher tried to calm fears, adding, “I don’t think it is too serious, but we will have to see how it settles down.”
United fans will be hoping those words age well, especially with Liverpool waiting on the other side of the international break.
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Defensive woes pile up for Manchester United
Amorim’s defense has already been stretched thin this season, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Noussair Mazraoui (Knock) have already been injured for a while now.
Heaven, who joined from Arsenal’s academy earlier this year, was seen as one of the club’s brightest prospects. He impressed in preseason and even earned praise from Wayne Rooney, who once called him “fantastic.”
However, his first full season in United’s senior setup hasn’t gone smoothly. After featuring in the Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby Town and making a brief Premier League cameo, the teenager has been waiting for his chance to make a real impact.
A loan move in January reportedly remains on the table — though his immediate focus will be on recovery.
Heaven is expected back at Carrington in the coming days for further assessment, and Amorim will likely face questions about his condition in this week’s press conference.
For a manager already juggling fitness worries, it’s yet another storm cloud before one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
As United prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on October 19, Amorim will be hoping this latest injury is more of a knock than a nightmare.
With the Red Devils’ defense already walking on eggshells, another setback could make stopping Liverpool’s attack feel like trying to plug a leaky roof in the rain.
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