Man Utd handed Raphael Varane injury boost as Erik ten Hag identifies return date

Manchester United have been handed a major injury boost with a player set to return in time for the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

United progressed to their second cup final this year by defeating Brighton on penalties at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The match finished 0-0 after extra time despite both sides having several chances to score with Erik ten Hag's side winning 7-6 on penalties.

The Red Devils started the game with a makeshift back four which saw Luke Shaw paired with Victor Lindelof at centre back with Harry Maguire suspended and Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane out injured.

However, after the game, Ten Hag was hopeful that Frenchman Varane would be fit to face arch-rivals City in the final.

What did he say?

During an interview with Talksport, he said: "I think so. Yeah. Varane, for the cup final, he can return."

The news will be a relief to United fans with the four-time Champions League winner adding much-needed experience to the backline.

The 29-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Spanish giants Real Madrid for an initial £34m fee in 2021 and has formed a formidable defensive partnership with Martinez this season.

He was injured in United's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla with speculation that he could be sidelined for a long period of time.

However, the club later revealed that he would be out for "a few weeks" but with the final against City not until June it's likely he will be fit by then.

Ten Hag's first season in the Premier League has been a success so far. Despite being knocked out of the Europa League the Red Devils remain on course to qualify for next season's Champions League and have already lifted the Carabao Cup.

The showdown with City is the first time a Manchester derby has taken place in a cup final and with City still able to win an illustrious treble, United will want to do all they can to stop them.