Man United receive double injury boost as Cunha and Mount return ahead of Chelsea clash

Manchester United have received a notable double injury boost ahead of their home game against Chelsea on Saturday, with Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount back in contention after recovering from injuries sustained in the 3-2 win over Burnley before the international break. The 5:30 p.m. kickoff at Old Trafford will see Cunha and Mount rejoin Ruben Amorim’s squad as United push to recover from a defeat to Manchester City in the Etihad derby and regain momentum in the early part of the season.

Amorim confirmed Cunha and Mount are fit for the Chelsea clash, emphasizing that both players will be in the squad for the weekend’s match. He indicated that Diogo Dalot remains sidelined, and Lisandro Martinez continues his recovery from a long-term knee issue. “Dalot is out, Mason is in the squad, Cunha is in the squad, Licha is still out,” the United boss said, and he added that Tyrell Malacia is training with the Under-21s as he eyes a return to first-team duties after failing to secure a move away this summer. Garnacho’s situation loomed large in the lead-up, with Amorim noting that the Argentina winger will return to Old Trafford for the first time since his move to Chelsea at the end of August, though he was reluctant to discuss the player in detail.

Ruben Amorim has delivered a blunt response to questions about Garnacho, saying simply, “Garnacho is not our player. I’m focused on our players. I’m really happy with Mason and Cunha returning, that is my focus – the rest you have to talk with the Chelsea manager.” The manager’s stance underlined the separation he is trying to maintain between a squad that includes players who have left United and a group still working to fulfil their roles under his direction. The return of Cunha and Mount provides United with two established attacking options who were both hurt in the Burnley victory and missed last weekend’s setback against City. The timing could be critical as United aim to keep a competitive front in a crowded early-season schedule.

Amorim also addressed Martinez’s rehabilitation, saying that while the long-term knee injury continues to keep him out, the process offers a unique blend of both progress and plateau. “When you have that injury, you have time to recover a lot of things really fast, and then there is a boring part. It looks like you don’t go to the next step. We miss Licha a lot. Especially in this moment, we miss the aggression. How aggressive he is in everything he does. I think we miss him.” He added that Martinez remains involved in the squad in meetings and training sessions; even when not on the pitch, the defender’s presence is noted, and Amorim suggested a path back to full fitness will require patience and continued work by all involved.

With Cunha and Mount back in the flow, United prepare to welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford for a meeting that features Enzo Maresca’s side as a test of United’s resilience in the early weeks of the season. The manager’s focus remains on his current group and the immediate challenge, rather than on broader transfers or off-field headlines, even as Garnacho’s future remains a talking point elsewhere in the sport. The game will kick off at 5:30 p.m. local time and represent another chance for United to measure progress under Amorim’s stewardship as he looks to balance squad depth with the demands of a packed schedule.