Manchester United have one player who has been reliable enough to make every single matchday squad in 2023/24.
Injuries have played havoc with Manchester United‘s season and the latest blow was seeing Rasmus Hojlund ruled out of the weekend game with Fulham.
While you can make the points that the squad should have been constructed better, with more depth at certain positions, there is no doubt Manchester United’s situation has been extremely unlucky.
The never ending injury crisis is highlighted by the fact only one first team player has made every single matchday squad this season.
Alejandro Garnacho is Mr Reliable
There is only one Manchester United player to be named in every single matchday squad for the 2023/24 season.
Remarkably this is teenager Alejandro Garnacho, although he has not quite played in every single game.
Garnacho was an unused substitute in two early season league games against Nottingham Forest and Burnley, but he was part of the squad, making the bench.
The teenager has played in 34 of 36 matches in all competitions, named in the squad all 36 times.
Last season he made only five Premier League starts, whereas this season he has 18 already in the league.
This is testament to his growing importance to the team, while he has also been fortunate enough to stay injury-free, which he did not last season, when he suffered an ankle injury against Southampton.
Garnacho was challenged ahead of the season to continue his upwards trajectory and he has certainly done that.
Even Manchester United’s regulars have missed at least one squad
Andre Onana has started every game he has been available for, but he missed one squad against Newport when he was at the African Cup of Nations.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes has stayed injury-free, but he missed the game at Liverpool due to suspension.
Likewise, Diogo Dalot, missed the subsequent match against West Ham after picking up a red card against Liverpool.
Marcus Rashford has also failed to make four squads, one of which was a suspension after a Champions League sending off.
Whether Garnacho can get to the end of the season making every single squad, will be a matter of luck.
But if he does stay fit, and suspension-free, then there is absolutely no reason for Erik ten Hag to leave him out any time soon.
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