MANCHESTER UNITED thrashed Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night – but there was huge concern for wonderkid Ayden Heaven after a serious injury.
Heaven, 18, had to be carried off on a stretcher after a five-minute delay, with Sky Sports cameras deciding not to show a replay of the incident.
Ex-Arsenal star Heaven had been arguably United’s best player in the match before he went down clutching his leg and looking in immediate pain.
According to those at the stadium last night, the defender walked out of the stadium in Leicester with his foot in a brace.
Leicester, under United great Ruud van Nistelrooy, have struggled in their quest for survival – and have now lost SEVEN in a row, scoring just once.
Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal of 2025 before Alejandro Garnacho doubled the lead against the poor Foxes and Bruno Fernandes sealed an easy three points.
Follow our live blog for updates…
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Heaven update “encouraging”
When the 18-year-old dropped he quickly raised his hand for help, and many others were afraid for the child’s safety when he was carried away.
The athlete could be able to return to activity in a few weeks, according to further analysis by injury specialists, unless he suffers a lower leg fracture.
Dion Dublin, a former United player, witnessed Heaven’s injury firsthand while working with Premier League Productions to assess the match. He first expressed concern about the seriousness of the issue.
Dublin saw Heaven’s exit from King Power Stadium, where he was wearing a protective boot but no crutches or any help, as a “encouraging” sign.
Dublin stated on The Weekend Wrap, “That is encouraging, that is encouraging most definitely.”
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Heaven’s injury hell
Heaven put in a superb performance at Leicester on his full Premier League debut.
However, he had to be carried off on a stretcher after a nasty fall in a tussle with Patson Daka.
The defender was spotted leaving the King Power with his foot in a brace – but crucially he walked to the team bus without crutches and did not go to hospital.
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Injuries mounting up
United went to Leicester already without defenders Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans through injuries – plus Patrick Dorgu was suspended.
So the threat of having teenage rising star Heaven potentially out could come as more bad news for Amorim – especially after his strong form.
United take on Nottingham Forest in their next game after the international break before the Manchester derby and the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.
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All to play for
Man United’s fixture list after the international break:
N. Forest (A)
Man City (H)
Lyon (A)
Newcastle (A)
Lyon (H)
Wolves (H)
Bournemouth (A) -
‘Unable to explain’
Heaven was left “unable to explain what he’s feeling” after his horror injury at Leicester.
Ruben Amorim issued an update on Heaven’s injury amid fears he could be sidelined for a prolonged period.
The Portuguese gaffer said: “We will see next week.
“It’s hard to understand because even when he’s on the ground, he can’t speak.
“He doesn’t know how to explain what he’s feeling because he’s so young. It’s hard to understand what he’s feeling.”
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Former Utd player’s assessment of Heaven
Dion Dublin has praised Matthijs de Ligt for helping Ayden Heaven look comfortable at United before his injury against Leicester.
“He looks very comfortable,” the former United player, pictured below, told Premier League Productions.
“When I was at the [Real] Sociedad game, De Ligt was talking to him all the way through the game, and he’ll need that little bit of reassurance from the seniors around him.
“But he’s playing like he’s played a couple of seasons for United, he’s asking for the ball, he’s making the angles in order to be free to get the ball.”
Credit: Getty -
‘A real coup for Manchester United’ – Wayne Rooney on Ayden Heaven
Wayne Rooney believes landing Ayden Heaven from Arsenal was a “real coup” for United.
He told Match of the Day 2: “Obviously, it is a huge football club, but at this time now where it is not maybe going right, to come in and play for Manchester United at 18, it is a lot of pressure.”
“Those expectations are on you from the first minute. But I think in the games he has played, I think he has been fantastic.
“I think he is a real coup for Manchester United.”
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Heaven’s back story
He joined United from Arsenal at the start of February after the two clubs had agreed on a compensation package for the 18-year-old.
He left the Gunners having made just one competitive appearance – a cameo in a League Cup win over Preston North End earlier this season.
However, he did feature on the Gunners’ pre-season tour last summer and started their 2-1 win over United in the US.
He was given the slip by Rasmus Højlund for the game’s opening goal but later recovered, producing a showing that forced Mikel Arteta into commenting on his composure.
Credit: Getty -
In case you missed it …
Here’s all the latest information on Ayden Heaven’s injury:
- He was left “unable to explain what he’s feeling” after his horror injury at Leicester.
- The Manchester United defender, 18, impressed on his full Premier League debut.
- But he had to be taken off on a stretcher early in the second half of the comfortable 3-0 victory at the King Power.
- Heaven was involved in a tangle with Foxes striker Patson Daka and stayed down clearly hurt.
- And he had to be taken off on a stretcher in worrying scenes after extensive treatment from both United and Leicester medics.
- The former Arsenal man left the stadium with a brace on his foot.
In the latest update, Ruben Amorim said he could be sidelined for a prolonged period.
The Portuguese gaffer said: “We will see next week.
“It’s hard to understand because even when he’s on the ground, he can’t speak.
“He doesn’t know how to explain what he’s feeling because he’s so young. It’s hard to understand what he’s feeling.”
We’ll bring you all the latest updates here on the injury.
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To come:
Man United’s fixture list after the international break:
N. Forest (A)
Man City (H)
Lyon (A)
Newcastle (A)
Lyon (H)
Wolves (H)
Bournemouth (A) -
Kukonki to step into Heaven’s place?
The current unknown element with Ayden Heaven’s unfortunate injury on Sunday and the already short-staffed United backline means it might offer Ruben Amorim the chance to evaluate some academy talents over the international break.
One who is widely earmakered as the next centre-half talent out of the youth is Godwill Kukonki.
Kukonki travelled with United’s matchday squad for Amorim’s first Premier League game – a 1-1 draw away against Ipswich Town – but has yet to make an official appearance.
The 17-year-old is a natural left-footed centre-back with a a whopping 6ft 5ins frame.
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Heaven one-word message to teammate
Ayden Heaven was unfortunately forced off the pitch through injury during Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on the weekend.
Rasmus Højlund was a scorer for the first time in 22 matches and his teen teammate Heaven was in his social media comments to lobby the praise towards the Dane striker.
Heaven was one of the first players to respond to his teammate, with the injured star commenting on Instagram: “Deserved,” with a love-heart emoji attached.
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Injuries mounting up
United went to Leicester already without defenders Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans through injuries – plus Patrick Dorgu was suspended.
So the threat of having teenage rising star Heaven potentially out could come as more bad news for Amorim – especially after his strong form.
United take on Nottingham Forest in their next game after the international break before the Manchester derby and the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final with Lyon.
-
‘Unable to explain’
Heaven was left “unable to explain what he’s feeling” after his horror injury at Leicester.
Ruben Amorim issued an update on Heaven’s injury amid fears he could be sidelined for a prolonged period.
The Portuguese gaffer said: “We will see next week.
“It’s hard to understand because even when he’s on the ground, he can’t speak.
“He doesn’t know how to explain what he’s feeling because he’s so young. It’s hard to understand what he’s feeling.”
-
Heaven’s injury hell
Heaven put in a superb performance at Leicester on his full Premier League debut.
However, he had to be carried off on a stretcher after a nasty fall in a tussle with Patson Daka.
The defender was spotted leaving the King Power with his foot in a brace – but crucially he walked to the team bus without crutches and did not go to hospital.
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Roo have got a special talent
Wayne Rooney believes landing Ayden Heaven from Arsenal was a “real coup” for United.
He told Match of the Day 2: “Obviously, it is a huge football club, but at this time now where it is not maybe going right, to come in and play for Manchester United at 18, it is a lot of pressure.”
“Those expectations are on you from the first minute. But I think in the games he has played, I think he has been fantastic.
“I think he is a real coup for Manchester United.”
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Also injured – Harry Maguire
Ayden Heaven is not the only player causing headaches for Utd. Harry Maguire remains out of action after he was taken off ahead of extra-time in the FA cup clash with Fulham on March 2 with an unknown injury.
Speaking after the win over Sociedad last week, Ruben Amorim said: “Harry Maguire we tried not to risk, we will see for Sunday.”
That wasn’t to be.
With the upcoming international break, Maguire could return when Utd face Nottingham Forest on April 1.
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Heaven’s back story
He joined United from Arsenal at the start of February after the two clubs had agreed on a compensation package for the 18-year-old.
He left the Gunners having made just one competitive appearance – a cameo in a League Cup win over Preston North End earlier this season.
However, he did feature on the Gunners’ pre-season tour last summer and started their 2-1 win over United in the US.
He was given the slip by Rasmus Højlund for the game’s opening goal but later recovered, producing a showing that forced Mikel Arteta into commenting on his composure.
Credit: Getty -
‘He looks calm’ – Rooney on Heaven
It was Ayden Heaven’s composure that earned special praise from Utd legend Wayne Rooney during his analysis of the youngster’s performance against Leicester.
The former striker told BBC Match of the Day: “He has come in from Arsenal so he knows what it is like to be at a big club; I think that will have helped him.
“He doesn’t look like he is playing with pressure, he looks calm, he’s composed, he gives them good balance with his left foot, he looks quick and he looks like he likes defending. I think he is a real coup for Manchester United.”
In case you missed it, Heaven played a blinder against Leicester but suffered a horrific injury and had to be stretchered off.
Credit: Getty -
How the mid-table looks now
Here’s where Utd currently sit after yesterday’s convincing win over Leicester.
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Amorim reacts to performance
“We understand better how to press, when to press, how to close spaces, the characteristics of our players, we improve connections, we create chances and we score goals.
“There were matches without chances and others with chances without scoring and now we have chances and we score. It’s due to time and confidence. The players feel better.”
Ruben Amorim
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Rated – Man Utd players
Heaven looked the business, until his sad injury, while Hojlund got his shooting boots back.
Check out our player ratings for United’s stars in their 3-0 win over Leicester, below.
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‘The biggest compliment I can give him’ – Rooney praises Ayden Heaven
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has praised teenage centre-back Ayden Heaven following his performance in Sunday night’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.
Rooney told Match of the Day: “Obviously, it is a huge football club, but at this time now where it is not maybe going right, to come in and play for Manchester Utd at 18, it is a lot of pressure.
“Those expectations are on you from the first minute. But I think in the games he has played, I think he has been fantastic.
“I came in as an 18-year-old at Manchester United and you do feel that pressure. But to come in as a centre-back, which is a position where you cannot afford to make mistakes as you get punished, it is very difficult.
“But he looks like he has been there for years – and that is the biggest compliment I can give him.”
Credit: BBC -
Another positive sighting of Ayden Heaven
Andy Mitten of The Athletic posted the following update, below, echoing what others have said.
The update doesn’t mean Heaven is away scot-free, though, and it would be surprising if he wasn’t set for a spell on the sidelines after the international break.
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More on Heaven
In more promising news, Ayden Heaven didn’t need crutches to walk to the team bus.
Tyron Marshall of MEN wrote on X: “Ayden Heaven left the King Power Stadium in a protective boot, but he did not need crutches to walk from the dressing room to #mufc’s bus.”
