Manchester United face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with injuries to Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount casting uncertainty.
Ruben Amorim’s side have won just one of their opening three matches, though the two-week international break has allowed extra preparation. City, meanwhile, have suffered early-season setbacks with defeats to Brighton and Tottenham.
Defender Noussair Mazraoui could be key for United. The 27-year-old, who played 57 games last season under both Erik ten Hag and Amorim, returned from an injury sustained on the final day of last season against Aston Villa in United’s 3-2 win over Burnley.
Mazraoui has since spoken about his first season in England and the Premier League’s physical demands, and he is now a serious option in Amorim’s backline.
“On a personal level, my fitness and the amount of games I played, I can look back to a good season,” he told The National.
“In fitness, the Premier League is always different than the other competitions.
“No winter break, obviously. The games were following up really fast.” He added: “You hope to stay fit and play as much as possible. That hadn’t always been the case for me.
“The Premier League is a bigger demand than other competitions, so you must take even more of your body. I had a switch in my mindset – be fit and ready and I think that helped me play so many games.”
However, the fitness of Cunha and Mount remains uncertain, with both having been forced off against Burnley. Amorim has admitted he is unsure how long either player will be sidelined, adding further unpredictability to United’s setup.
