Raphael Varane should be ready to play in Manchester United’s FA Cup final match against cross-town rivals Manchester City, according to Erik ten Hag.
Varane was taken out at halftime of United’s Europa League quarterfinal match against Sevilla after suffering an ankle injury in the first leg, which the Red Devils lost 5-2 on aggregate.
Ten Hag has recently had to utilise an improvised backline because to the season-ending metatarsal fracture that Varane’s central defensive partner Lisandro Martinez sustained in the same game.
With club captain Harry Maguire suspended, Luke Shaw partnered Victor Lindelof in the centre of defence as United reached a record-equalling 21st FA Cup final with Sunday’s penalty shoot-out win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
United will now face treble-chasing rivals City in a Wembley Stadium final on June 3, and the Red Devils are hopeful of having Varane available.
Asked whether Varane could feature in United’s second domestic cup final of the season, Ten Hag told talkSPORT: “I think so, yeah. Varane, for the cup final, he can return.”
Varane has made a total of 27 starts for United this campaign, having also been sidelined with ankle and leg injuries prior to last year’s World Cup.
United have fared well in Varane’s absence, winning 20 of their 25 games without him in the starting lineup across all competitions (L5), compared to 16 of their 27 with the Frenchman involved from the off (D7 L4).