Tough blow for Noussair Mazraoui (and the Moroccan team)

For his first start since December, Noussair Mazraoui had a difficult end to the match at St James’ Park. Manchester United suffered their first defeat under the direction of Michael Carrick, losing to Newcastle with a late goal from William Osula.

The Moroccan defender was forced to leave the pitch in the last five minutes, replaced by Tyrell Malacia. Visibly in discomfort, Mazraoui was seen "leaving cautiously" the stadium after the final whistle, reviving concerns about his physical condition after he had already missed several matches at the start of the season.

This injury represents a major setback for the Red Devils, who were already without Patrick Dorgu, sidelined for ten weeks. Although Luke Shaw was able to return, uncertainty now hangs over the Moroccan international’s ability to face Aston Villa next Sunday, a crucial match for Champions League qualification.

The potential unavailability of the full-back is also being closely monitored by the Moroccan national team staff. After several months without starting a match, this physical setback comes at a time when the 28-year-old player was trying to stabilize his playing time in the Premier League.