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Manchester United’s injury woes show no sign of slowing down as their pre-season casualty list continues to rise.
The Red Devils’ trip across at Atlantic has seen them return with fewer fit player than they left with. Results have been mixed but it is the list of absentees that will be of greatest concern to Erik ten Hag with the Premier League opener a fortnight away.
Everyone at Old Trafford is keen to work off a clean slate with INEOS and their new sporting structure in place for the first time. They helped land the signing of Leny Yoro, who was signed from Lille for more than £50million despite Real Madrid also circling.
Landing the teenage defender was a coup for the club but Yoro was forced off on his debut against Rangers. The injury looks to be serious with United’s new signing – who was due to start from the off – now facing a up to three months on the sidelines.
At the other end of the pitch Rasmus Hojlund has also suffered a notable setback. The Dane had a mixed first year in Manchester but is looking to build on his debut campaign. He faces about six weeks out with a hamstring issue which leaves Ten Hag seeking makeshift solutions.
Marcus Rashford picked up a knock and Ten Hag said he wouldn’t take “risks” with the player – but was happy to use him in the loss against Liverpool, suggesting his injury fear was minor.
Antony, whose future in Manchester has been questioned after a below par 12 months, is another man currently nursing an injury issue, which could leave Jadon Sancho potentially leading the line for United against Manchester City in seven days time.
Defensively United have issues beyond just Yoro with several players missing their pre-season tour due to international involvements and the subsequent breaks that followed them. Tyrell Malacia is one man who has been absent for a prolonged period as he battles injuries.
Ten Hag has confirmed that the full-back is closing in on a training return but is still months away. He said: “He is not that far, but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games. I think it would be possible in two months.”
Their latest blows came against Liverpool as Will Fish, admittedly not a regular, needed a stretcher to get off the pitch. The young defender looked distraught with the new season just two weeks away.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans all began the game but were hauled off with varying degrees of concern. Wan-Bissaka is tipped for a move to West Ham but the two centre-halves may be needed in the early weeks of the season.
The United boss said: “The assessment, of course, with Will Fish is it’s an impact injury. We also had to sub Jonny Evans at half-time because he was ill. Victor Lindelof [was] a precaution. So, yeah, there are some injuries, but we have to see how bad it will be.” – Mirror
Online Reporter