Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot may not play again this season after suffering a calf injury.

Dalot, 26, has only been absent for one game for United this season, making 51 appearances and missing the 3-1 Premier League win over Southampton in January.

But head coach Ruben Amorim gave an update on his Portuguese compatriot when speaking at a news conference on Friday, after he played the final half an hour of last Sunday’s 1-0 home loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“Diogo is out,” Amorim said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth. “We don’t know how long he’s going to be out for the next games we’ll see until the end. Amad is near, Mattha (De Ligt) is near. The rest is at the same pace. Ayden (Heaven) is not ready, that’s it

“There is that possibility (that Dalot is out for the season) but we don’t know, we’ll check week by week. He works hard. He can recover quite well. We’ll see

“He has something in his muscle, his calf. He played all the time but some players have to play a lot of minutes, we have to protect ones who are not able to cope with that. Dalot felt something.”

Dalot began the season filling in at left-back under Erik ten Hag but since arrival of Amorim and the January signing of Patrick Dorgu, he has more been used as a right wing-back in the coach’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Following the Bournemouth game, United travel to Bilbao for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club. Amorim’s side then face Brentford away before the home leg against Athletic a week later.

‘Amorim may have do without one of his most dependable players’

Dalot is an almost constant presence for United. No player in Amorim’s squad has played more than the his 4,419 minutes this season — including captain Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Andre Onana.

He has only sat out of one game entirely, that Southampton game in January, and has been named as a substitute just twice, starting 49 of United’s 52 games in all competitions.

The right wing-back’s absence will be felt if he is to miss United’s critical Europa League semi-final tie against Athletic Club, not only because whoever fills his spot will likely come up against the dangerous Nico Williams.

Noussair Mazraoui has looked comfortable as a right-sided centre-half in this set-up. Amad played there before his ankle injury, and Amorim confirmed on Friday the Ivorian is nearing a return, but whether he will be available in time is unclear.

Dorgu may be the best option, despite being naturally left-footed, which could force either teenager Harry Amass or Luke Shaw into contention on the opposite flank.

Whatever way you look at it, there is no direct Dalot replacement. It is far from ideal, but Amorim may have to do without one of his most dependable players for the rest of the campaign.