Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui among Manchester United absentees ahead of Atletico Madrid clash

Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui is among several Manchester United players expected to miss their upcoming Champions League encounter against Atletico Madrid, as the English side contend with fitness concerns ahead of their trip to Spain.

According to Sky Sports, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo also missed training at Carrington, leaving their availability for the match against the Spanish club uncertain.

United must decide whether the two players will travel to Madrid, while Mazraoui, Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte are also set to be unavailable.

United face growing selection concerns

The uncertainty comes at a difficult time for Manchester United, who have failed to win any of their past four Premier League matches.

Their latest disappointment was a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday. Despite Tottenham being reduced to 10 players following Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal, Spurs salvaged a late equaliser in the 90+2 minute.

United’s most recent victory came in the Champions League against Azerbaijani side Sabah, whom they defeated 4-0 in their opening league-phase match.

The club will now be hoping to overcome their domestic struggles and deliver a stronger performance in Europe, despite the concerns surrounding the availability of several players.

Mazraoui among confirmed absentees

Mazraoui’s expected absence represents another selection concern for United as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid.

The Moroccan defender is joined on the reported list of unavailable players by Sesko, Dorgu and Ugarte, who has been absent for an extended period.

Meanwhile, Shaw and Mainoo remain doubtful after missing the latest training session. Their potential absence would further limit the options available to the coaching staff ahead of the European fixture.

De Ligt continues recovery

There was a more encouraging development concerning Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, who took part in a training session on Monday.

The defender is continuing his rehabilitation from a back injury that has kept him out of action since last November.

However, his participation in training does not in itself confirm that he will be available for the Atletico Madrid match.

With several players facing fitness concerns, Manchester United must assess their options before travelling to Spain for a challenging Champions League encounter.