Man Utd injury blow as Fred comes off injured after 35 minutes and replaced by Paul Pogba

MANCHESTER UNITED star Fred was forced off in the first half against Everton after picking up an injury.

Fred, 29, started in midfield alongside Nemanja Matic but lasted just 35 minutes and was replaced by Paul Pogba.

Fred appeared to be struggling with a groin problem and was walking gingerly before being substituted.

Pogba was sent to warm up and Fred looked like he could continue for a few minutes before the decision was made to bring the Frenchman on.

The change came with United already trailing 1-0 after Anthony Gordon's deflected effort opened the scoring.

United threatened early on with Marcus Rashford coming close with a header that was well saved by Jordan Pickford.

Fred has been a key player for Ralf Rangnick so his injury will likely come as a blow to the German.

The midfielder has missed just three league games since Rangnick was appointed and two of those absences were due to coronavirus.

Fellow midfielder Scott McTominay was ruled out of the trip to Goodison Park ahead of the match with a foot problem.

Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani were also missing with United taking a patched-up side to Merseyside.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

They started the better of the two sides despite that with Rashford also having a shot saved by his England team-mate Pickford.

But Everton, who twice gave the ball away sloppily in the build-up to their goal, took the lead in the 27th minute through Gordon.