Casemiro will be out for several weeks due to the hamstring injury he suffered during the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday.

The Manchester United midfielder was replaced at half-time and tests have revealed a hamstring strain. The Brazil international joins Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines.

Casemiro had only recently returned from an injury that kept him out of the games against Copenhagen, Sheffield United and Manchester City.

The news is another blow to Erik ten Hag, whose troubled side have lost back-to-back home matches by a 3-0 scoreline and lie eighth in the Premier League — 11 points behind leaders Tottenham.

They are not exactly pulling up trees away from home either and fans will not have been fooled by narrow back-to-back victories at promoted sides Burnley and Sheffield United.

Fulham, in 14th place, will represent a far tougher assignment in Saturday’s early kick-off than those two games even if Marco Silva’s side have also struggled for consistency.

Former Ajax coach Ten Hag sounded a defiant note after defeat by Newcastle and the majority of United fans still appear to be behind him, instead directing their ire on the structural failings that have eroded the club’s standing. Inevitably, however, the buck stops with the man hired to pick the team and he is running out of credit.

With surprise leaders Tottenham Hotspur hosting Chelsea on Monday, Arsenal and Manchester City could both move above them on Saturday. City will be expected to brush aside Bournemouth but Arsenal have a much tougher looking assignment as they travel to Newcastle for Saturday’s late game.

Arsenal suffered a chastening League Cup defeat at West Ham on Wednesday when their squad players failed to shine. But the likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard will return at St James’ Park.

Fourth-placed Liverpool travel to Luton Town on Sunday when fifth-placed Aston Villa are in action against Nottingham Forest. In the bottom half Everton will aim to maintain their recent upturn in form as they host Brighton.

Bottom club Sheffield United have suffered the worst start to a Premier League season by any club and will seek a morale-boosting win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday.

Written with inputs from Reuters