Noussair Mazraoui injury raises doubts over Manchester United return against Tottenham

Manchester United are facing uncertainty over the availability of Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur after the defender picked up an injury during the international break.

Mazraoui was forced off after being affected by a challenge during Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Lesotho last Tuesday. The injury subsequently kept him out of Sunday’s friendly against Mali.

Manchester United have not yet disclosed the nature or severity of the injury, leaving his participation against Tottenham dependent on the outcome of further medical assessments.

United wait on Mazraoui’s fitness

The 28-year-old has returned to Manchester United following the injury and will now be assessed by the club’s medical staff.

His availability for Saturday’s fixture is likely to depend not only on the results of those examinations but also on whether he is able to resume team training before the match.

The uncertainty represents another defensive concern for manager Michael Carrick at an important stage of the Premier League campaign.

Dorgu also dealing with injury

United are already monitoring the fitness of Patrick Dorgu, who suffered a muscular problem while on international duty.

The situation could leave Carrick with fewer experienced options to cover for Luke Shaw when the England international is unavailable.

Mazraoui’s versatility has made him particularly valuable to the squad, with the Morocco defender capable of operating on either side of the defence.

Mazraoui an important option for Carrick

Mazraoui has made five appearances for United in all competitions since the beginning of the 2026-27 season, starting three of those matches.

His ability to switch between defensive positions gives Carrick greater tactical flexibility and makes his potential absence another selection issue ahead of the Tottenham game.

United will therefore be hoping Mazraoui can recover quickly enough to return to training and put himself in contention for the weekend fixture.

Tottenham clash awaits

Manchester United are scheduled to host Tottenham on Saturday in the sixth round of the Premier League.

With Mazraoui’s fitness still uncertain and Dorgu also recovering from injury, Carrick faces an anxious wait over his defensive options before one of the key fixtures of the weekend.