Noussair Mazraoui absent from Man Utd training amid fitness concern as shock replacement, 21, is drafted in

MANCHESTER UNITED drafted youngster Sam Mather into first-team training amid an apparent fitness issue with Noussair Mazraoui.

Mazraoui and fellow defender Lisandro Martinez were the only senior outfield players absent from imagery and footage released by the club from their midweek training session.

Martinez is stepping up his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained against Crystal Palace on February 2 with individual sessions.

Mazraoui returned from injury against Burnley last month and has since started in both of United’s Premier League fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, the Morocco international’s absence from United’s recorded session on Tuesday afforded an opportunity for FA Youth Cup winner Mather to train with the first team.

United will leave it to head coach Ruben Amorim to provide a fitness update on Mazraoui on Friday.

Mather, 21, started in the same side as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho that beat Nottingham Forest in the 2022 final but the Mancunian is yet to make a matchday squad.

The winger joined National League side Rochdale on loan in the 2024 winter transfer window and earlier this year moved to League Two Tranmere Rovers on loan, where he played only four minutes.

Mather’s versatility allowed him to fill the void on the right wing in Mazraoui’s absence.

The academy talent was not in the United Under-21 squad for their Premier League International Cup victory against Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Erik ten Hag’s agent, Kees Vos, signed up Mather to his SEG International agency in May 2024.

Mather was included in Ten Hag’s final pre-season tour squad last year and came on in United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina.

Mather is the only remaining SEG client at United following Rasmus Hojlund’s season-long loan move to Napoli on deadline day.

Amorim has whittled down the United first-team squad to 21 outfield players, including Martinez.

The Argentina centre back has still been an ever-present at United’s Carrington training complex, attending team meetings and staying to watch team-mates finish their team sessions.

Martinez was added to the relaunched United leadership group in the summer and travelled with the squad to the Etihad for the 3-0 derby drubbing two weeks ago.

United are without the suspended Casemiro at Brentford in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off after his red card in the 2-1 win against Chelsea.

Manuel Ugarte is expected to replace the Brazil international.