Mazraoui injury adds to Manchester United's six-player fitness crisis before Spurs clash

Noussair Mazraoui became the sixth Manchester United player to suffer an injury concern during the current international break after the full-back was substituted in Morocco’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on Tuesday evening, holding his back following a fall. The setback deepens a mounting fitness crisis at Old Trafford ahead of United’s Premier League home fixture against fellow early-season strugglers Tottenham Hotspur.

The 28-year-old had scored for Morocco against Gabon last Friday but was replaced by Achraf Hakimi before the hour mark. Moroccan manager Mohamed Ouahbi offered no update on Mazraoui’s condition after the match, leaving United in the dark over the severity of the problem.

The full-back’s issue is the latest in a string of blows for United during the break. Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford both withdrew from the England squad with knocks, though the club understands neither has suffered a serious injury. Patrick Dorgu, however, returned from Denmark duty with a hamstring problem — a recurrence of the injury that kept him sidelined for three months last season — and could face an extended spell on the sidelines.

Benjamin Sesko is also carrying an injury described as one that “doesn’t look good”, while Bruno Fernandes remains the most significant concern. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez confirmed on Saturday that Fernandes came off against Wales with a “complicated problem” that “involves treatment and recovery time.” Martinez added that Fernandes had told him he had been playing through pain for his last three games at club level, which had been affecting his performance.

United have made a difficult start to the season, collecting just five points from their opening five Premier League games and exiting the Carabao Cup at the third-round stage. The return of a depleted squad only increases the pressure on the club heading into the Tottenham fixture.