Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his club’s ongoing injury issues are holding them back.
Last season United suffered 45 injuries – more than any Premier League rival – while they were without 10 first-team players for Thursday’s Europa League draw with Fenerbahce – nine because of injury.
And while veteran central defender Jonny Evans could return for Sunday’s trip to West Ham, there are huge doubts over Brazilian winger Antony, who went down with no-one near him after coming on as a second-half substitute in Turkey and had to be carried off on a stretcher.
Defensive trio Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia are all yet to make an appearance this season, while Mason Mount has made five, including the Community Shield, and is currently in his second spell out of action in this campaign alone.
“Yes, it holds us back in our levels and also in our position in the league,” said Ten Hag. “When you don’t have the players available, you can’t line up the best team.”
United hoped they would solve their problems through the hiring of Gary O’Driscoll from Arsenal as their new head of medical 12 months ago.
But it hasn’t happened and Ten Hag knows his side will struggle to fulfil their potential until an answer can be found.
“We need more players available often,” he said. “We all have to work together on this point – the players, the coaching staff and all the other staff.
“We have to do better at that because we know when we have them we are a really tough team to play and we can be really successful.”
