Patrick Dorgu sent home by Denmark as Man Utd await fitness update

Patrick Dorgu has withdrawn from Denmark’s squad after medical tests showed he needs further recovery time following his hamstring injury.

The Manchester United defender will miss the games against Portugal and Norway and return to his club for rehabilitation. His availability for United’s trip to Liverpool on 22 November remains unclear.

Patrick Dorgu injury: what Denmark said

The Danish FA confirmed the news on Friday. In a statement, team doctor Morten Boesen explained that Dorgu was not yet ready to play.

“We have carried out a series of tests on Dorgu, and he has not performed well enough to be ready to play in the two matches,” Boesen said, in comments translated from Danish. “He needs further recovery time after his injury, so we are sending him home for additional rehabilitation.”

Denmark’s statement does not confirm a new injury. It says Dorgu needs more recovery time before he can play.

It is a strange twist. Dorgu had initially been ruled out of Denmark’s plans with the hamstring problem, then was called up on Monday after his comeback for United at the weekend. He trained with the squad on Wednesday, with head coach Brian Riemer urging caution over his recovery. Now he is heading back to Manchester.

Denmark face Portugal in Braga on Saturday before hosting Norway on Tuesday.

From late hero to fitness question

Only last Sunday, Dorgu was the talk of Old Trafford. He came off the bench for around 25 minutes in the wild 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, crossed for Joshua Zirkzee’s stoppage-time goal, then headed in a 96th-minute equaliser from a corner.

That was his first game back after being sidelined since September, when he hurt his hamstring in Denmark’s 2-0 win over Wales. United had missed his energy down the left side.

What it means for Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed as United’s new head coach on Friday and starts work on 18 November.

Dorgu matters to a side sitting in the bottom three. United need goals and they need legs, and he offers both, whether at left-back or further forward.

The withdrawal does not automatically rule him out of Pochettino’s first game, as CentreDevils notes. Whether Dorgu is ready for Anfield on 22 November will depend on how he responds to his rehabilitation at Carrington over the next week.

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