Manchester United just cannot catch a break.
Two pre-season friendlies, four injury concerns.
And while the issues that forced Marcus Rashford and Antony off against Real Betis in midweek should not keep the duo out for the foreseeable future, there was no such luck for Rasmus Hojlund or Leny Yoro.
Shortly after opening the scoring with a fine solo effort against Arsenal in the USA, Hojlund tweaked his hamstring. Manchester United’s new number nine is now facing up to six weeks on the sidelines, per Sky Sports.
Things are even more painful for Yoro, both literally and figuratively.
Before he’s keen kicked a ball in competitive action for the Red Devils, the club’s marquee centre-back signing may now be forced to wait until November to male his official debut.
But, speaking to the Manchester Evening News ahead of Sunday’s meeting with North West neighbours Liverpool in California, Ten Hag insists that the feeling behind the scenes is still one of positivity.
Manchester United duo Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund injured
“(Injuries are) part of football. That’s part of top football especially,” Ten Hag begins.
“You go to the edge. Every player has to go to the edge and yeah, then injuries are not avoidable. But of course, we have to be ready as a club and as a team to cover this.
“The players (Hojlund and Yoro) are dealing very well with this setback.
“They are very positive. They are already recovering and they will return.”
It will take more than a few weeks on the treatment table to darken Hojlund’s mood.
The ever-chipper Dane took to Instagram to deliver one of his trademark amusing posts, Hojlund reminded of that bitter North Sea breeze as he begun his recovery with a cryotherapy chamber session.
Ten Hag, at least, has £35 million newbie Joshua Zirkzee ready and waiting to step in during Hojlund’s absence. The Dutchman started training at Carrington this week following his summer holidays and may be in line to make his first Man United start against City in the Community Shield on August 10th.
A central defensive partnership of Lisandro Martinez and a revitalised Harry Maguire, meanwhile, should keep United’s sheet relatively dry until Yoro can make his own return.
Ten Hag insists that Man United’s transfer plans will not be altered by those injuries, meanwhile, despite claims from The Athletic’s David Ornstein that a bid was submitted for Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt on Friday.
Ten Hag plays down Marcus Rashford concerns
“No, this will not change anything,” Ten Hag says. “We have a plan and we stick to the plan. We have a plan and we will execute the plan, how we have that in our minds.
“So, we will continue this.”
Ten Hag also moved to calm the fears surrounding Rashford’s own fitness ahead of the Wembley re-match with Pep Guardiola’s defeated FA Cup finalists.
Rashford has looked a damn sight sharper in pre-season than he did during much of 2023/24, linking up impressively with false nine Jadon Sancho during that Amad Diallo-inspired victory over Real Betis.
“You have seen him. He got a knock,” explains Ten Hag. “I think not too bad. I think he will progress quickly from this knock.”
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