Steve Evans has confirmed that on-loan midfielder Liam Bridcutt will remain sidelined for United’s midweek trip to Birmingham City.

The November arrival from Sunderland, who has featured 24 times for United so far this season, missed Saturday’s narrow defeat at league leaders Burnley with a thigh injury, which will also keep him out of Tuesday’s clash at St Andrew’s.

Evans is hopeful of having Bridcutt back in training ahead of Saturday’s Elland Road meeting with Reading, but the head coach is reluctant to rush him back into action and risk elongating his absence.

“He hasn’t got a chance for tomorrow,” Evans said. “He’s very much in our thoughts for towards Saturday, though.

“The risk of injuring him again tomorrow would be too high to take.

“We’re hopeful that Liam will train later in the week, that’s the medical opinion.”