Erik ten Hag provides massive Manchester United team news update
Manchester United take on Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday
Manuel Ugarte is likely to make his Manchester United debut at Southampton on Saturday, despite only returning to Carrington from international duty on Thursday.
Ugarte was the sole player to return from international duty two days before the trip to the south coast.
He featured for Uruguay in Venezuela on Tuesday evening, while the rest of United’s internationals were back in training on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old played in all but 11 minutes of Uruguay’s two World Cup qualifiers during the international break.
This was his first action of the season, having not played for Paris Saint-Germain before his £42 million move to United on deadline day.
These appearances have helped boost his match fitness, and although he will only have two training sessions before the Saturday lunchtime game at St Mary’s, Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he will be available for selection.
Manchester United will be without the services of Luke Shaw and Rasmus Højlund, who are still recovering from their injuries and are not yet ready to return to the matchday squad.
“Rasmus Hojlund and Luke Shaw are progressing very well but not ready,” said Ten Hag.
“Manuel Ugarte, you will have seen he played for Uruguay, he returned this afternoon [Thursday], he was the only player who returned today, the rest yesterday, so he is available for this game.”
He added: “We will see where we are in May next year.
“It is very early in the season and it is about winning trophies, being as high as possible in the league, doing everything to win every game.
“It doesn’t impact me, I know in the process where we are and what we have to do.
“I have said before we are still in a transition period and we have to integrate a lot of young players in the team.
“We still have to deal with injuries and bring players back into the team.
“Before anyone thinks about excuses, no, we have to win every game.
“I know that. The team knows that and it doesn’t matter who is available.
“We will focus on every game and approach it with the mindset that we have to win.”
Read more: Erik ten Hag responds to Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments
It will be a “dream for me” to win the Ballon d’Or – Rodri
Lucas Leiva describes Federico Chiesa as ‘a fantastic signing’ for Liverpool
