MANCHESTER UNITED DEFENDER Raphael Varane is expected to be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

The France international only returned to the United side in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Tottenham after a lay-off following a groin problem sustained in the Nations League final.

But the 28-year-old was forced off in the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League draw at Atalanta, and United have now confirmed the extent of the World Cup winner’s injury.

ℹ️ There's an update regarding the injury @RaphaelVarane picked up on Tuesday night...#MUFC | #UCL

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 3, 2021

And it means United will now have to plan without the experienced defender as they head into a series of key fixtures.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday before another international break, after which they travel to Watford, Villarreal and Chelsea before the end of the month.