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By DANIEL DAVIS Published: 07: 21 AEDT, 17 March 2025 | Updated: 07: 39 AEDT, 17 March 2025 20 View comments Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven was forced off on a stretcher after suffering an injury on his first Premier League start against Leicester. Heaven, who joined the club from Arsenal in a deal worth £1million in January, saw a commanding display at the King Power cut short after he tangled with Patson Daka. The youngster immediately rolled around in pain and signalled to the bench, leading to a five-minute stoppage to allow him to receive treatment from medics from both sides. He was then carried away and replaced by Toby Collyer. The 18-year-old looked to damage his ankle after shepherding the ball behind for a goal kick following Jamie Vardy's fizzed delivery across the penalty area. He had made his first senior start for United in the midweek victory over Real Sociedad in the Europa League and kept his place in the starting XI at Leicester with Ruben Amorim hamstrung by a worsening injury crisis. Leny Yoro, Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were all ruled out while Lisandro Martinez remains a long-term absentee after tearing his ACL. Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven was forced off on a stretcher against Leicester Heaven, 18, tangled with Patson Daka and rolled around in pain before receiving treatment After a lengthy stoppage, the centre back was carried off the pitch and down the tunnel Heaven started the game in a back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Victor Lindelof and won several duels, as well as impressing with the ball at his feet. United are still to offer an update on the extent of his injury. Rasmus Hojlund ended his 21-game scoring drought after tucking home the opening goal before Alejandro Garnacho broke his own duck with the visitors' second. Amorim praised Heaven for his imperious performance against Sociedad but threw down the gauntlet, urging him to continue to step up for his side. 'If he continues like that he is going to play, ' said Amorim. 'Of course he is young and he didn't play much this season, maybe only 45 minutes for the Under-21s, then a few minutes here and now a full game. I really like his confidence. 'I like his pace, I think he is good in defending the box and I think he is quite complete. But he has a lot of work to do in the Premier League. 'We will face a different kind of player and he will be tested in a different kind of way, so we are trying to manage all of this because he is still really young. '
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