Ruben Amorim, and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers alike, are desperate to have Matheus Cunha back available for Manchester United as soon as possible.
Manchester United star Matheus Cunha is not quite ready to return. (Image: Getty Images)
Matheus Cunha won’t play for Manchester United at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. The Brazil international missed Monday night’s 1-0 reverse against Everton and will, once again, sit out as the Reds travel to Selhurst Park.
Cunha, 26, joined United from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5million in June but has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, having struggled with injuries and fitness-related issues. Indeed, the ex-RB Leipzig man has scored just one in 11 appearances for United, though his minutes have been managed at times.
However, despite Cunha’s struggles, he’s still a popular pick on Fantasy Premier League (FPL). Before United’s game against Everton, Cunha was brought in by more than 50,000 managers,- having proved his fitness after starting four successive Premier League matches in a row before the international break.
He accumulated 17 points in that period – a run that many FPL players felt would continue or, perhaps, get better – heading into a good-looking set of fixtures on paper, with West Ham and Wolves to come after Palace.
But, with Cunha suffering a head injury in the build-up to United’s meeting against Everton, he won’t be able to get FPL managers any points in the clash with Palace, after Amorim ruled him out.
Managers who own Cunha will now be debating whether to sell the £7.9m asset, despite the fact he’s ready to be back available for the visit of West Ham, who rank among the weakest defensive teams this season.
United teammate Bryan Mbeumo (£8.6m), Manchester City star Phil Foden (£8.0m), Eberechi Eze (£7.7m), Morgan Rogers (£6.9m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.3m) are five alternatives, should FPL owners decide to sell Cunha.
Matheus Cunha is set to miss Manchester United’s game against Crystal Palace(Image: (OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) )Is Matheus Cunha fit to play for Man Utd vs Crystal Palace?
No. Having endured a stop-start season, the United forward isn’t set to return until the West Ham game.
What has Ruben Amorim said about Matheus Cunha’s injury?
Cunha has been a hot-topic for Amorim during his recent press conferences. Sharing his latest update on Friday, the Portuguese said: “I expect to have Matheus in the next one [West Ham on Thursday], not this one.”
When is FPL’s deadline for Game Week 13?
Now this might catch one or two managers out this weekend – as there is a later-than-usual deadline for making changes to your squad, with the cut-off for making transfers at 1.30pm (UK time) on Saturday, November 29.
It has been pushed back from Saturday morning due to Tottenham and Fulham going head-to-head in Saturday’s night kick-off (8pm), with the first set of matches this Game Week taking place at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
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