Manchester United’s Injury Woes Deepen as Dalot Withdraws from Portugal Squad

Manchester United's recent victory over Burnley has been overshadowed by yet another injury blow, as Diogo Dalot has been forced to withdraw from the Portugal national team. This latest setback adds to an already lengthy list of concerns for manager Ruben Amorim, who now faces the prospect of being without several key players for the upcoming Manchester derby.

Dalot, who played the full 90 minutes in United's 3-2 win, was set to feature in Portugal's World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary. However, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the full-back's release from the squad due to what was described as "muscle discomfort." Lazio defender Nuno Tavares has been called up as his replacement.

The injury is particularly frustrating for Dalot, who has maintained an excellent fitness record at Old Trafford over the last few seasons. The 25-year-old has been a consistent presence, featuring in 35 of the 38 Premier League matches in the previous campaign and only missing one game due to suspension. His reliability has made him a vital part of United’s backline, and his absence will be keenly felt.

This is the third injury concern for the club in a matter of days. In the same match against Burnley, both Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount had to be substituted due to what appeared to be hamstring and muscle-related issues, respectively. With the Manchester derby on the horizon, Amorim now has a significant challenge on his hands. He is expected to provide an update on the squad’s fitness when he addresses the media next week, but the current outlook is far from encouraging. The club will be hoping Dalot's discomfort is minor and that he can make a swift return to the pitch.