Erik ten Hag issues positive update on Man United trio ahead of Barnsley clash

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt are all available for selection for Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round tie at home against Barnsley.

The Red Devils were initially sweating over the fitness of the trio after they were all withdrawn in the 3-0 Premier League win at Southampton last weekend.

While both Martinez and Mazraoui limped off in the second half with unspecified issues, De Ligt was also withdrawn due to cramp but has since allayed fears that he has picked up something more severe.

"I'm fine I just had a little bit of cramp the last five minutes," De Ligt told reporters after the match. "It's the first time I think in five months that I played three times in a row. I wanted to play until the end but the coach said it would be better to take me off."

Ten Hag has since addressed the media ahead of Man United's EFL Cup clash with League One outfit Barnsley and has confirmed that the defensive trio "are all available" and "are good" to play at Old Trafford.

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Man United receive triple injury boost as six remain sidelined

Ten Hag has also revealed that Tuesday's contest will come too soon for Red Devils trio Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring), Mason Mount (muscle) and Victor Lindelof (toe) as they continue to recover from injury.

However, Ten Hag refused to rule out the prospect of Hojlund, Mount or Lindelof returning for Saturday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, saying: "We will see how the progress will continue."

Meanwhile, the Man United boss has confirmed that left-back Luke Shaw remains sidelined, but he is "progressing well" in his recovery from a calf problem.

"Of course we have a plan in our head when he can be ready," Ten Hag told reporters on Monday." But you're always dependent on how the progress will go and you can't make a suggestion, because there are so many factors why a rehab plan can accelerate or slow down."

Shaw, Hojlund, Mount, Lindelof are four of the six Man United players currently in the treatment room along with Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia, who are still recovering from respective foot and knee injuries.

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Ten Hag: 'EFL Cup success is significant for Man Utd'

Man United are regarded as firm favourites to come out on top against Barnsley and Ten Hag has emphasised the importance of steering his side deep into this season's EFL Cup.

Asked if winning domestic silverware has become more significant since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co, Ten Hag said: "I would say it's significant.

"FA Cup, Carabao Cup, it's significant. I see all the attention from all the teams, from all the owners, from all the managers when they win a trophy, like Liverpool last year did, winning the Carabao Cup.

"I saw that final. I saw all the teams battling for it. We want the same. So it's very important in football to win trophies. You have five opportunities, and our aim is always to win all the games, so win all the trophies if possible."

"No doubt we are aiming for a trophy, this is one opportunity, so we take [Tuesday's game] seriously," Ten Hag added.

Man United won their sixth EFL Cup in 2022-23, but they were knocked out in the fourth round of last season's competition by Newcastle United, losing 3-0 at Old Trafford.

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