Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has shared an update on the fitness of young defender Ayden Heaven after he was forced to leave the field during Sunday’s match against Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
Injury during the Leicester City Game
The 18-year-old centre-back, who had been getting regular game time recently, was stretchered off in the 51st minute of the match.
He had been playing well, but after a clash with Patson Daka while shepherding the ball for a goal kick, Heaven seemed to suffer an ankle injury.
He immediately signalled to the bench in pain, though Sky Sports chose not to air the moment when the injury occurred.
This was a tough break for Heaven, especially since it marked his return to the starting lineup in the Premier League after his move from Arsenal’s academy in February.
Amorim’s Thoughts on Heaven’s Condition
Amorim spoke to Sky Sports after the game and provided insight into Heaven’s situation, admitting that it’s too early to know the full extent of the injury.
He explained that the team will conduct a series of tests during the upcoming international break to assess the defender’s condition more thoroughly.
“It’s hard to know because we have to evaluate during the week,” said Amorim.
“He played well against Arsenal and Real Sociedad, but today was tough for him. We expected him to relax a bit, but he was so focused.
It’s clear my players are at their limit right now. We’ll use this break to rest and recover before we come back stronger.”
Heaven’s Impact and United’s Current Struggles
Despite the injury, Heaven had a positive impact in recent games, notably playing the full 90 minutes in United’s important win against Real Sociedad, which helped them secure a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
However, Amorim’s team has faced challenges in the Premier League, currently sitting 13th in the table with just 37 points from 29 matches.
United has also been eliminated from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Heaven’s role could become even more significant in Amorim’s defensive setup, which often features three centre-backs.
The Portuguese manager has expressed his admiration for the young defender, praising his pace and defensive abilities.
Amorim’s Praise and Future Expectations
“He’s a complete player, but there’s still a lot of work to do, especially in the Premier League,” Amorim said.
“He’ll face different kinds of challenges against a variety of players, so we’re trying to manage his development carefully, considering his age.”
As for the Leicester game, Heaven was substituted when United had already taken a 1-0 lead, thanks to a first-half goal from Rasmus Højlund, assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Alejandro Garnacho and Fernandes both scored later, helping to secure a 3-0 victory for United.
As Heaven’s injury is assessed, fans will be hoping for a swift recovery and a return to the field soon.