Antonio Valencia sustains hamstring injury as United beat West Brom

Manchester United full-back Antonio Valencia could be set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in Sunday’s win over West Bromwich Albion. The Ecuadorian veteran, who has been wearing the captain’s armband in Michael Carrick’s continued absence, hobbled off in the second half of the 2-1 victory at the Hawthorns.

Valencia later claimed he was “fine”, though José Mourinho isn’t counting his chickens. Quoted on the United website, the gaffer said:

“This is what I call a December injury. It is an injury of accumulation of fatigue. It is a muscular one. Hamstring. Big, small, medium, I don't know. Let's wait. I think he is an experienced guy to not let it go to difficult limits. But it is an injury of fatigue. Everyone in the Premier League especially the ones in more accumulation of cups, European cups, they are at risk.”

With Valencia having been one of United’s most reliable performers over the last couple of seasons, any absence would come as a blow. Right-backs are in short supply at Old Trafford at the moment, and Matteo Darmian would be the only like-for-like replacement. Let’s hope Valencia really is “fine”, and we’ll be seeing him back on the pitch in days rather than weeks.