Man Utd confirm Leny Yoro injury recovery timeframe | OneFootball

Manchester United will be without centre-back Leny Yoro for Thursday night's crucial Europa League clash with Real Sociedad, but the teenage Frenchman's absence is set to be short-term.

Yoro, who has started games more often than not in 2025, was forced off with a foot issue at half-time in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Arsenal. It sparked fears of a potential costly lay-off given that the youngster had already missed several months with a broken foot since joining United last summer.

Head coach Ruben Amorim allayed those fears after the game. And while initial hopes about Yoro's immediate availability were unfounded, he was still able to deliver some positive news when he spoke to the media on Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

Yoro won't play against Real Sociedad on Thursday, or Leicester City at the weekend, but is expected to be available once club football resumes after the March international break. That is an absence of around three weeks and could see him return when United face Nottingham Forest on 1 April.

Harry Maguire is also not ready to return for the visit of Real Sociedad, which sees United attempt to reach the Europa League quarter-finals after being held to a 1-1 first leg draw in Spain last week.

With Yoro, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans all ruled out this week, there could be a full debut for January signing Ayden Heaven. The 18-year impressed against former club Arsenal after being called on to replace Yoro at the interval and stands a good chance of getting the nod.

Ayden Heavean could be the beneficiary of Yoro's absence / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

Amorim's alternative would be dropping Noussair Mazraoui into the back three. That was less feasible against Arsenal due to Patrick Dorgu serving a domestic suspension, meaning that the United boss had limited wing-back options available to him.

Dorgu is back in contention and would be expected to return to the starting lineup, but Amorim confirmed it is "too soon" for Mason Mount to play after the midfielder returned to training.

Veteran star Christian Eriksen has already alluded to the pressure riding on Thursday's game, with winning the Europa League the only realistic way for United to qualify for European football next season. The prize for that would be a place in the Champions League.

United are out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, both of which offer a place in Europe, while qualifying via domestic league position is an uphill battle, sitting 14th at this stage of the season.