Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has claimed that Diogo Dalot could miss the remainder of the campaign with a calf issue, with the Portugal international set to be assessed on a week-to-week basis.
Dalot was not involved in Man United's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, but it had been thought that the right-back had been rested after an energy-zapping Europa League contest with Lyon.
Amorim, speaking during his press conference on Friday afternoon, has said that the Portuguese has a calf problem, which will sideline him for Sunday's Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
However, there is a chance that the 26-year-old could also miss the remainder of the season depending on how the injury problem progresses in the coming weeks.
"Diogo Dalot is out. We don't know how long he is going to be out but he is out for these next games. Amad [Diallo] is near, [Matthijs] De Ligt is near. Ayden [Heaven] is not ready," Amorim told reporters.
"There is a possibility (Dalot will miss the rest of the season) but we will see week by week. He has something in his calf muscle. He had a sequence of games he played all the time. We tried to manage but we had to protect players and Dalot felt something."
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Dalot could miss the rest of the season with a calf injury
Dalot has been a vital player for Man United during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring three goals and registering five assists in 51 appearances in all competitions.
As it stands, the Red Devils have seven more matches before the end of the season, two in the Europa League, with the team preparing to take on Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of the competition.
Man United will hope to play eight times before the campaign concludes, though, with the final of the Europa League potentially taking place against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt next month.
The 20-time English champions will also play five more Premier League matches this term, facing Bournemouth, Brentford, West Ham United, Chelsea and Aston Villa before their season concludes.
Amorim will not be concerned about losing Dalot for the Premier League games, as the Red Devils have nothing substantial to play for late in the campaign, but his absence in the Europa League would be damaging.
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Who could replace Dalot in the Man United XI?
Patrick Dorgu made his debut for Man United as a right-sided wing-back, and the Denmark international could now be required to operate in that position between now and the end of the campaign.
If that is the case, a space will open up down the left, which could be filled by Harry Amass, who has made an excellent impression during his recent performances for the Red Devils.
Luke Shaw is now back to fitness, but Amorim will have concerns over selecting the England international from the start against Athletic next week due to the length of his recent absence.
As a result, Amass could be given the nod at San Mames for the first leg of the Europa League semi-final, although there is also the option of moving Noussair Mazraoui into the right-sided wing-back role and keeping Dorgu down the left.
Matt Law
