Manchester United's preparations for the 2024/25 season have been hit by significant injuries for Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund, with the French defender facing three months on the sidelines.
The teenage centre-back was seen on crutches and with a protective boot on his foot at United's training base in the build-up to their friendly victory over Real Betis, having been substituted in the previous 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Yoro now isn't expected back in action until late October at the earliest, while Denmark international Hojlund will miss six weeks with a hamstring blow sustained in the same game. He won't be available until after the September international break, according to BBC Sport.
While United recorded their second win of pre-season by beating Real Betis at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Casemiro, manager Erik ten Hag has another fitness worry to think about after Rashford limped off just after the hour mark.
The England international, who wasn't included in Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024, appeared to damage his ankle and couldn't continue.
United's 2023/24 season was negatively influenced by a swarm of injuries, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw among the first-team stars regularly missing from Ten Hag's preferred XI.
Whether Yoro's blow accelerates the Red Devils' bid to sign another centre-back during the summer transfer window remains to be seen. Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has been regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford, while Matthijs de Ligt is also of interest to United.
They will now attempt to get through their final summer friendly without any more injury blows. They take on Premier League rivals Liverpool in the early hours of Sunday morning before battling Manchester City in the Community Shield the following weekend.