Manchester United in defensive crisis as star man is latest to be ruled out of Chelsea match

Manchester United are set to have just one centre-back available to face Chelsea this weekend amid injuries and suspensions.

United make the trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, live on talkSPORT, with Champions League qualification on the horizon.

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They will be gunning for an instant response to their shock 2-1 home defeat to rivals Leeds United earlier this week.

However, the challenge that awaits at fellow top-five chasers Chelsea has become even tougher due to various defensive absences.

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Michael Carrick will be without Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in west London.

Maguire was suspended against Leeds after being sent off in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on March 20 for his foul on Evanilson.

He was then given another one-match ban for acting in an improper manner and/or using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour to the fourth official.

Martinez joins him on the suspension list following his controversial red card during the Leeds defeat.

The Argentine was adjudged to have pulled Dominic Calvert-Lewin by his hair during a challenge.

When announcing his decision after a VAR check, referee Paul Tierney called it violent conduct, which results in a three-match ban.

And on top of those absences, talkSPORT understands that Leny Yoro has not travelled with the rest of the squad to London either.

Yoro has picked up an injury and some reports suggest that the Frenchman could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

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Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt has not played a game since November and also remains sidelined due to a back injury.

Makeshift defence

It means United are likely to have a centre-back pairing of Ayden Heaven and Casemiro, a natural midfielder, against Chelsea.

“I think Ayden’s in a good place,” Carrick said of 19-year-old Heaven. “Well, I know he’s in a good place.

“He’s obviously still young and he’s progressing through the early stages of his career, so I think it’s pretty natural for him to play some games and maybe not some others.

“He’s training really well, he’s learning, he’s listening, he wants to improve.

“So, I think it’s pretty natural, for a centre-half of his age, he’s probably well ahead of schedule in terms of the games that he’s played.

“He’s trained well, I’ve got no worries. He went away and played with England a couple of weeks ago and done well, so yeah, [he’s] looking forward to the game, for sure.”

Patrick Dorgu is also unavailable to play at left-back for United as he makes his slow return from a hamstring injury.