Manchester United defender ‘getting ready to play’ for country despite injury worries

Called up to the Sweden national team for the international break despite being out injured against Newcastle for Manchester United, Victor Lindelöf was half-expected to feature against Malta.

He didn’t, probably to the relief of the Old Trafford medical staff, but with a big game coming up against Spain, Janne Andersson could turn to the centre-back to shore up his backline.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, the Sweden manager explained that all 24 first-team players trained as normal in the morning, and said in a follow-up answer that he had ‘heard nothing other than Vigge [Lindelöf] was getting ready to play’, relayed by Aftonbladet.

That suggests the Manchester United man will be in the starting line-up against Spain on Tuesday, who will be without their star defender Sergio Ramos.

Lindelöf initially missed the game against Newcastle and his country’s fixture against Malta with a back issue, as it ‘locked up’ during his outing against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.