Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is short of forward options for Saturday’s derby against Manchester City, with the loan signing of Dutch international Wout Weghorst not completed in time.
Weghorst will join until the end of the season after United reportedly agreed a deal with Besiktas to reduce his loan from Championship club Burnley.
Anthony Martial is also a doubt due to injury, which could force the Ten Hag to move the in-form Marcus Rashford into a more prominent role.
Rashford has scored in eight straight games at Old Trafford and has seven goals in six games since the World Cup break.
But most of the England international’s goals have come while operating down the left rather than through the middle.
“I’m close,” Ten Hag said when asked at Friday’s pre-match press conference about a deal for Weghorst. “But he won’t be available for tomorrow.”
Weghorst, who scored just twice for Burnley in the Premier League last season, has been seen as a poor replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo by many United fans.
But United have gone from strength to strength since Ronaldo’s contract ended, with eight consecutive wins in all competitions.
The acid test will come against Premier League champions City, who beat their local rivals 6-3 when the sides met earlier this season at the Etihad.
“It did not come overnight, there has been a process in the last month where we develop, progress,” said Ten Hag. “We have to be brave, act with confidence and play the game.
“We took the lessons (from the last meeting) and since then we made great progress. We have to continue the process.
Diogo Dalot was also absent for United with an injury in Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final win over Charlton and Donny van de Beek’s season is over with a serious knee injury.