Manchester United have been handed another fitness concern during the international break, with Noussair Mazraoui becoming the latest player to suffer an injury while on international duty.
The Morocco international was forced off during his country’s match against Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. His situation adds to a growing list of Manchester United players dealing with fitness problems during the current international window.
According to a report by Sports Illustrated on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the number of Manchester United players unavailable for international duty has now reached 11.
Mazraoui’s injury is particularly noteworthy because of his versatility. The 28-year-old can operate on either side of the defence, giving Manchester United an important option when managing their defensive lineup.
Noussair Mazraoui Suffers Injury for Morocco
Mazraoui was involved in Morocco’s match against Lesotho in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The defender started the game but was unable to complete the match. He was replaced in the 69th minute after going down following a tackle.
Mazraoui appeared to be holding his left hip or lower back area after the incident. Medical staff also attended to the Manchester United defender before he eventually left the field.
The full extent of the injury has not yet been established.
That uncertainty will be something Manchester United will be monitoring closely, particularly because Mazraoui has become a useful option across the backline.
His ability to play at both right-back and left-back gives the club additional flexibility when selecting its defensive setup.
Manchester United Have 11 Players With Fitness Issues
Mazraoui’s problem adds to a sizeable group of Manchester United players currently dealing with fitness concerns.
According to the report, 10 other players have also been unavailable for international duty during the current break.
The list includes:
- Amad Diallo
- Matthijs de Ligt
- Manuel Ugarte
- Tom Heaton
- Bruno Fernandes
- Patrick Dorgu
- Marcus Rashford
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Benjamin Šeško
- Karl Darlow
The situations surrounding the players are not necessarily identical, with some already known to have fitness problems while others withdrew from their respective international squads.
For Manchester United, however, the growing list creates another issue to manage ahead of the return to club football.
Bruno Fernandes Has Been Playing Through Pain
One of the more notable cases involves Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal midfielder missed his country’s match against Norway. Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus explained that Fernandes had been dealing with pain during his recent matches for Manchester United.
According to Jesus, Fernandes had played through the issue during his previous three games.
“He told me that he had played with that pain in the last three games,” Jesus said, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
The Portugal coach also explained that the issue affected Fernandes’ ability to perform at his best against Wales.
Rather than taking another risk against Norway, Portugal opted to leave the midfielder out with the aim of having him fully ready for the next match against Denmark.
For Manchester United, Fernandes’ situation will be worth monitoring as the club prepares for the resumption of domestic competition.
Dorgu Forced Off for Denmark
Patrick Dorgu is another Manchester United player who encountered a problem during international duty.
The versatile defender was involved for Denmark against Wales but was unable to complete the match.
Dorgu had previously started against Norway, but his appearance against Wales lasted only around 30 minutes before he was taken off.
His versatility makes his fitness important for Manchester United, particularly given the number of players already dealing with availability issues.
The club will therefore be hoping that Dorgu’s problem does not develop into a lengthy absence.
Rashford and Mainoo Leave England Camp
Manchester United also saw Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo withdraw from the England squad.
Both players were unable to complete Manchester United’s 1-1 match against Fulham before the international break.
Their subsequent withdrawal from the England camp meant they would not be available for the national team’s fixtures during this window.
The situation adds further uncertainty surrounding Manchester United’s squad ahead of the return to club football.
Rashford’s absence could affect attacking options, while Mainoo’s situation is another midfield fitness concern for the club.
Šeško and Darlow Also Miss International Duty
Benjamin Šeško was another player who was unavailable for international duty.
The Slovenia striker withdrew before joining the national team’s training camp.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Karl Darlow also left the Wales squad because of a fitness issue.
Together with the other players on the list, their situations contribute to a busy period for Manchester United’s medical and fitness staff.
Not every case necessarily carries the same level of concern, but the number of players involved makes squad management increasingly important.
Mazraoui’s Versatility Makes His Situation Important
Among the latest concerns, Mazraoui’s situation stands out because of the role he can play within Manchester United’s defence.
The Morocco international is capable of operating as both a right-back and a left-back. That flexibility can be particularly valuable during a season when teams have to manage injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion.
His ability to cover multiple defensive positions means any extended absence could reduce Manchester United’s options.
At this stage, however, the severity of Mazraoui’s injury remains unclear.
The immediate priority will be assessing his condition following the incident against Lesotho and determining how long he may need to recover.
Manchester United Await Further Updates
The international break has once again brought fitness concerns to Manchester United.
With 11 players listed as unavailable for international duty and Mazraoui becoming the latest addition after his injury for Morocco, the club will be hoping for positive updates before competitive football resumes.
The situations involving Fernandes, Dorgu, Rashford, Mainoo, Šeško, Darlow and the other players will also need to be monitored.
For now, the key question surrounding Mazraoui is the extent of his injury.
Manchester United will likely want clarity on his condition as soon as possible, particularly given his ability to cover both full-back positions.
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