Pivotal hours ahead for Man Utd after red card appeals
[Getty Images] Over the next 48 hours, Manchester United will find out whether Harry Maguire will receive an additional punishment for his red card at Bournemouth last month. The defender was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) for something he said to fourth official Matt Donohue as he made his way off the field. An additional suspension would rule him out of the Chelsea game on Saturday, which Matthijs de Ligt is almost certain to miss as he deals with a long-term back problem.
Lisandro Martinez will also miss out - in addition to home games against Brentford and Liverpool - after he was dismissed for violent conduct for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair in the second half of Monday's 2-1 defeat by Leeds United. Michael Carrick has suggested the club will appeal against the red card. However, if they are not successful, his only available central defenders will be 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro at Stamford Bridge.
"That's why we have a squad," countered Carrick. "We have got players that we can call upon. We will go there and look forward to the game.
"Hopefully Licha [Lisandro Martinez] is still available. I certainly think he should be after that [red card], but we will see. "