It’s been a difficult season for Manchester United and injuries have played a massive part.
Erik ten Hag has disappointed massively in his second season as Manchester United boss. His team and most of his players have gone backwards after progress was finally made last year.
The manager has repeatedly made the same tactical errors and his job looks in increasing peril after Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over football operations.
But injuries have been a huge mitigating factor and would be unfair not to take them into consideration.
United could still be doing better – Liverpool won the Carabao Cup while missing several key players – but they have been hit with injuries all season long.
Ten Hag has hardly been able to name a settled starting XI, let alone his strongest one, and any team would struggle under such strain.
However, there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Latest United injury news
United have received some long-awaited positive updates on the injury front this week.
The club confirmed that Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were both back in training on Tuesday.
Additionally, Denmark’s manager, Kasper Hjulmand, has hinted Ramus Hojlund could play at the weekend.
Speaking to campo.dk, he said: “It is clear that Rasmus will play on Sunday against Liverpool and must get through the game well.
“We expect that. We are in contact with United. I have spoken to Erik, and we expect that to happen.”
United’s injury list will still have some big names on it weeks to come but at least it appears to finally be getting smaller.
Strongest United team with everyone fit
It’s interesting to think how different the season would have gone if United had a fully fit squad throughout.
The defence has been hit the hardest with the losses of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw extremely prohibitive to how Ten Hag wants his team to play.
With everyone fit, the pair would partner Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane in front of Andre Onana in the strongest back-line.
After suffering injuries of his own early in the season, Kobbie Mainoo has now broken into the senior side and established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.
The teenager starts in midfield but the position next to him is up for grabs. Purely for experience it probably goes to Casemiro but the Brazilian has had a difficult season.
Mount or Scott McTominay could easily take his place.
United have actually been able to play most of their attack recently and the forward three of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford is proving quite dangerous.
Hojlund is the missing piece that ties it all together and the sooner he is back the better.
United’s strongest starting XI when every player is fit: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.
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