Manchester United will be hoping to put their sluggish start to the Premier League season behind them when the campaign resumes after the international break.

After suffering a second successive defeat last time out, losing 3-0 at home to Liverpool, United will make the long trip south to face Southampton with the ambition of securing all three points. The Saints have lost each of their opening three games, scoring just one goal.

United have also been sluggish in attack thus far, scoring just twice, meaning they will be under pressure to turn up the heat against Russell Martin’s side.

Ahead of the upcoming trip to St Mary’s, United are still facing a cluster of injury issues, with Mason Mount added to their list of woes ahead of the defeat to Liverpool. Ahead of the campaign resuming in just under a week’s time, MEN Sport has taken a look at the latest on the United injury front.

Leny Yoro

Injury: Fractured metatarsal

Yoro, who joined United from Lille in July, fractured his metatarsal in the opening game of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. He required surgery and it is still thought he may be sidelined for up to three months.

The Frenchman, however, is understood to be making good progress with his rehabilitation, so much so that he is already walking without crutches. He is understood to have already started work in the gym at Carrington and United’s medical staff are continuing to work with him closely.

Possible return date: November.

Victor Lindelof

Injury: Toe.

Centre-back Lindelof was taken off at half-time in United’s final pre-season friendly against Liverpool in South Carolina and has not featured since. He is understood to have not trained in more than a month.

Speaking last month, Ten Hag said: “He has an issue on his toe, hopefully he can return quickly, but not available.” It remains to be seen when he could next be available for selection.

Possible return date: Unknown.

Luke Shaw

Injury: Calf

United, three days before their Premier League opener against Fulham, revealed that Shaw would miss the start of the season with a calf injury. In a statement, the club said the defender ‘is working hard on his rehabilitation with a view to being available after the first international break’.

Last featuring for United in any capacity on February 18, starting the 2-1 win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, it remains to be seen if Shaw will be available to face former club Southampton next weekend. Ten Hag will almost certainly be asked to issue an update on him when he speaks to the media on Thursday.

Possible return date: September 14 (Southampton A).

Tyrell Malacia

Injury: Knee

Malacia has been sidelined for more than a year because of a knee injury. He last featured for United in any capacity on the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

He has been working hard on his rehabilitation programme and Ten Hag recently confirmed he could be back in contention within the next couple of months.

The United manager said: “He is not that far [off], but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games. I think it would be possible [to be available again] in two months.”

He has been included in United’s 25-man squad for the upcoming Europa League campaign, suggesting a return might not be all that far away.

Possible return date: October.

Mason Mount

Injury: Muscle.

Mount, three days before the defeat to Liverpool, issued a statement on social media confirming he had sustained a ‘minor muscle issue’ in the 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion the previous weekend. As a result, he is now in the midst of another spell on the sidelines.

The former Chelsea man said that he expected to be unavailable for ‘a few games’, suggesting he will play no part at Southampton.

Possible return date: Unknown.

Rasmus Hojlund

Injury: Hamstring.

Having missed more big chances in the Premier League than any other club so far this season, United need Hojlund back as soon as possible. He suffered a hamstring injury in the opening game of United’s pre-season tour of the United States, being forced off just minutes after scoring in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.

He has since returned to the grass at Carrington and is working hard to make his return to the team as soon as possible. Ten Hag, speaking ahead of the defeat to Liverpool, was coy on the Dane’s chances of returning against Southampton.

He said: “We have to see how it develops, how he can progress during the [international] break, to get match fit. He returned on the [training] pitch but it will take a while before he is up. Everyone has seen, it [the injury] happens in the first game [of the pre-season tour], so he needs also to build some fitness.”

Possible return date: September 14 (Southampton A).