Donny van de Beek will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury, though Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is adamant his long-term outlook is encouraging.
Van de Beek was hurt in a collision with Marcos Senesi – who appeared to slip – during United's 3-0 win over Bournemouth on January 3.
The midfielder's leg bent awkwardly at the knee under the weight of Senesi, and although Van de Beek was just about able to walk off the pitch, his reaction suggested it was a serious injury.
Ten Hag confirmed the severity of the damage done on Friday, with the Netherlands midfielder ruled out for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign.
But Ten Hag did try to offer some optimism, with Van de Beek set to return in time for pre-season after avoiding a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
"Yes, it is his knee. On the long-term, it is looking really good, he will be back for the start of pre-season. The rest of the season he is out," Ten Hag said.
"I think everyone was really…thoughts are with him, it is terrible when you are in a middle of a season and you get a bad tackle, bad injury, it is always really disappointing and thoughts, your feelings are with the player, you express that.
"Our group did that really well and we are now happy his knee on the long-term is good. Donny is also happy with that.
"But in the same moments, there are mixed feelings and disappointment he is out of this season.
"The players are feeling we are building something good and we want to be part of it and that is what I feel in this club and this moment, everyone wants to be part of it. Because of his bad injury, he is now out, so there are two sides of it.
"But the good news is on the long-term he will be back and his knee will be stable."
Richarlison: Reports of Tottenham unrest 'fake news'
Richarlison has described reports suggesting he is unhappy at Tottenham as "fake news", insisting he will still be playing in the Premier League next season.
Richarlison enjoyed a vastly improved season in 2023-24, scoring 11 Premier League goals after only netting once in his first campaign with Spurs in 2022-23.
However, injuries prevented the Brazil international from finishing the campaign strongly and reports have suggested Spurs are in the market for a new striker.
They have also agreed to bring Timo Werner back from RB Leipzig on another season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
Some had suggested Richarlison could be a victim of an overhaul as Ange Postecoglou looks to put his stamp on the squad, but the former Everton man says he is going nowhere.
In a post to X, Richarlison wrote: "I gave up my vacation and came to work in Sao Paulo so I could return well and ready for the next season.
"I never said I was dissatisfied at my club, and everything that has been coming out in the media here about negotiations is fake news.
"I don't know where they got that from! I won't leave England next season!"
Houston Dynamo v Colorado Rapids: Mihailovic wants Rapids in conversation for best team in the West
Djordje Mihailovic believes the Colorado Rapids should be grouped among the best teams in the Western Conference as they prepare for a trip to the Houston Dynamo.
The Rapids have won just one of their last four games, but a point against Minnesota United in a 3-3 draw was enough to keep them sixth in the table.
Colorado are now looking to get back to winning ways, and Mihailovic is hoping their form against the rest of the top six can translate against Houston.
"Last year wasn't great, and we're trying to move on, but we can't forget - it's the club's history," Mihailovic said.
"To know we're good against the top six in the West [only losing once], I think it shows we belong in that conversation. I know people won't say that on the outside, but we believe that in our group.
"It says a lot when we weren't happy with a draw [against Minnesota]. Now we go to Houston and Vancouver before our break, and it's a good opportunity to move up in the standings."
Houston sit four points behind Colorado in eighth place, but the teams below them are staying within touching distance.
After failing to win any of their last three matches, head coach Ben Osborn was asked what was missing from the team’s performances.
He said: "Goals are missing - finishing off some of these chances and I think the other part that's missing is understanding how to win games, or tie them, and find these moments where we are just more disciplined at times, so I think it's a combination of those two."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Latif Blessing
Blessing scored his first goal of the season on Saturday, the tenth different Dynamo player to find the net this season. He is one of nine to have just one goal this year, as only Ibrahim Aliyu (four goals) has scored multiple times for Houston in regular-season play in 2024.
Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro
Navarro has the longest active goalscoring streak in MLS, having found the net in five straight appearances. Navarro is the third Rapids player to score in five straight regular-season matches after Omar Cummings in 2010 and John Spencer, who did so in six straight games in 2003.
MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
Houston have won consecutive matches against Colorado after winning just two of the previous 16 meetings dating back to 2016 (seven draws, seven defeats). This is the Dynamo's first set of consecutive wins over Colorado since 2008-09.
However, the Dynamo's 2-1 defeat at the LA Galaxy on Saturday was their fifth loss in their last nine regular-season matches (two wins, two draws). Houston had suffered just two defeats in their previous 17 league matches dating back to last July.
Colorado came from 3-1 down in the final 30 minutes to draw Minnesota 3-3 on Saturday, ending a run of 19 straight losses when trailing by multiple goals. It marked the sixth time in team history, and first at home, that the Rapids had avoided defeat despite trailing by multiple goals after the hour mark.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 55.2%
Draw – 24.3%
Colorado Rapids – 20.4%
Shaw hits back at critics questioning Man Utd loyalty
Luke Shaw has hit back at those "questioning his loyalty" to Manchester United following an injury-hit campaign.
The left-back made just 15 appearances for United in all competitions this season and has not played since February due to a muscle injury.
Despite that, Shaw received a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, though the England manager said he is a "long shot" to make the final squad.
Taking to Instagram, Shaw posted: "There’s nothing I want to do more than play and win with United.
"I don’t normally react to things I see on social media but there’s a lot of people questioning my loyalty to this club and asking how I am fit for England but not United.
"The reality is I am not 100% fit for either right now, but I am doing everything I can and constantly working to be [fit]. I have been at this club for 10 years through highs and lows and for anyone to question my loyalty is obviously frustrating.
"My biggest focus right now is being fit and then whatever happens this summer I will be ready."
England will play two friendlies before the Euros, and Southgate will announce his official 26-man squad following their game against Iceland on June 7.
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