Cunha and Yoro near returns

Matheus Cunha and Leny Yoro are pushing to return for Manchester United’s home game against Brentford on Monday, April 27, after missing time with injury. (espn.com) United’s own match coverage for Brentford, published April 21, said Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt missed the April 18 win at Chelsea through injury, while Harry Maguire is available again after suspension. ESPN’s fixture page lists Brentford at Old Trafford for 12 p.m. ET on April 27. (manutd.com) (espn.com) Yoro’s absence was significant at Stamford Bridge because Michael Carrick had only one natural center back available in 19-year-old Ayden Heaven, with Noussair Mazraoui shifting inside. United still won 1-0 through a Cunha goal before half-time. (espn.com) (manutd.com) Cunha is not returning from the same situation as Yoro. He started and scored against Chelsea, and his Premier League record for 2025-26 stands at 8 goals and 2 assists in 30 starts and 4 substitute appearances. (manutd.com) (premierleague.com) That matters because United’s squad has been stretched at both ends of the pitch in April. Lisandro Martinez is still suspended for Brentford, and the club said de Ligt and Yoro both sat out the Chelsea trip, leaving Carrick to patch together his defense. (manutd.com) (espn.com) It also comes with United closing in on a top-five finish. The club’s report on the Chelsea win said the result moved United 10 points clear of Chelsea and left them within touching distance of securing a Champions League place. (manutd.com) Yoro, 20, had started each of United’s previous six fixtures before missing Chelsea, and the club said on April 18 that Carrick hoped the problem keeping him out was only a small one. A club interview published April 16 also described the defender as closing in on a return from injury. (manutd.com 1) (manutd.com 2) Cunha, 26, is in his first United season after completing his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers on June 12, 2025, on a contract running to June 2030 with an option for an extra year. His 1-0 winner at Chelsea underlined how quickly he has become a regular source of goals. (manutd.com 1) (manutd.com 2) Brentford arrive with recent success in this fixture, having beaten United 3-1 on September 27, 2025, and 4-3 on May 4, 2025, according to ESPN’s head-to-head record. For United, getting Yoro back and keeping Cunha available would ease the strain before a run-in that next brings Liverpool to Old Trafford on May 3. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2)