Man Utd Needs Additional Signings to Address Injury Concerns

When Manchester United announced that Erik ten Hag would remain in charge despite overseeing their worst-ever Premier League campaign and the club exploring multiple alternatives, they promised a new direction.

The club's hierarchy, while conducting a thorough review of the season, cited "significant factors for last season’s under-performance in the Premier League and Champions League," specifically highlighting "the highest number of injuries in the Premier League, particularly in key positions." The logic was that, barring a repeat of last year’s severe injury crisis, United would be much stronger this season.

However, it is particularly inconvenient that, just two weeks before United begin the new season against Fulham, they are facing another injury crisis impacting crucial players. The club’s biggest summer signing, Leny Yoro, is sidelined for three months with an ankle injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Arsenal, while Rasmus Hojlund will be out for six weeks after straining his hamstring in the same match. Additional injury concerns arose in the subsequent friendly against Real Betis, with Marcus Rashford and Antony both limping off.

As they prepare to conclude their tour against Liverpool, one wonders who will be the next to fall victim to the club’s pre-season injury woes and whether more players will be sidelined when the season officially kicks off.

New season, same problems

The injury issues plaguing United during pre-season are strikingly similar to the misfortunes they faced before the last campaign. Kobbie Mainoo sustained a serious ankle injury from a freak collision in a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in Texas, while Amad Diallo injured his knee in a match against Arsenal in New Jersey.

Mainoo didn't recover until late November, and Amad's first appearance was delayed until the end of December. New striker Rasmus Hojlund, signed for £72m ($92m), arrived with a back injury and wasn't available until the third game of the season, forcing Marcus Rashford to start as a centre-forward.

This was just the beginning of United’s injury woes, which eventually saw them suffer 66 injuries throughout the season. The impact was significant, contributing to their lowest Premier League finish in history and an early exit from the Champions League.

Nightmare for Yoro

The current wave of injuries feels particularly damaging. Unlike Mainoo and Amad, who had barely featured for the first team at the time, Yoro had recently become one of United’s most expensive defenders.

The club had secured a major coup by outmaneuvering Real Madrid for his signature, and Yoro was expected to be a transformative addition, potentially pairing with Lisandro Martinez to solidify United’s ability to build from the back. His injury means that, at least for now, this investment will not yield immediate results, as the French youngster won’t be available for his Premier League debut until early November.

This situation puts additional pressure on Martinez, who missed most of last season due to foot and knee injuries, to remain fit. It already seems that 36-year-old Jonny Evans, who was overused last season, will again be relied upon heavily.

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Hojlund's woes

The injury to Hojlund is particularly troubling. The Dane had limited pre-season training due to his participation in Euro 2024 and was thrust straight into action against Arsenal in Los Angeles. He started well by scoring the opener but had to be substituted after a sprint. This marks his fourth injury in a year with United and comes at a critical time as he needed to make an impact in his second season, having only shown flashes of his potential during his debut campaign.

As a result, he will be sidelined until after the first international break. This absence means Joshua Zirkzee is likely to start the season as the centre-forward. Zirkzee had a strong season with Bologna but has expressed a preference for playing alongside a strike partner, which complicates his integration into United's attacking setup.

Additionally, Zirkzee may miss the opportunity to develop a partnership with Hojlund and could also be affected by Rashford's injury. Rashford, who was seen limping out of the Snapdragon Stadium, had looked sharp against Betis and was eager to bounce back after a challenging last season.

Worrying pattern

Antony’s injury is less concerning to supporters, given his limited impact even when fully fit. However, it underscores the worry that last season's injury problems might not have been an anomaly but rather a recurring issue.

United had hoped to address these concerns by hiring Arsenal's long-serving doctor Gary O'Driscoll last summer, with physio Jordan Reece also joining from north London. O'Driscoll conducted a review of United's injury issues with the aim of reducing them, but early indications suggest little improvement.

Ten Hag criticized players for their fitness levels following the defeat in the first friendly against Rosenborg, but the issue has continued. The manager may also share some responsibility; his minimal rotation of the squad last season and his tendency to rush players back from injury may have contributed to the recurring problems.

Vicious cycle

Luke Shaw, who endured two major hamstring issues and started only 12 Premier League games last season, admitted that his injury against Luton in February was "partly my fault, partly the medical staff's."

He explained: "I felt something during the Aston Villa match and came off at halftime. I didn’t train for the entire week. The scan showed minimal damage, but I trained just the day before the game. If the manager asks me to play, I’m not going to refuse. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have played."

Shaw narrowly made the England squad for Euro 2024 and described how his efforts to return quickly for United led to a cycle of overexertion and further injury. "I pushed myself to be fit for United, which has been the story of my season," he said. "I was determined to be available for the games and the FA Cup final, and I think I pushed too hard."

Regardless of the cause, United appear disorganized as they prepare for a critical season, needing a strong start after a difficult previous campaign, which was only salvaged by winning the FA Cup. They urgently need to get back into contention for Champions League qualification.

Mazraoui's worrying record

The ongoing injury issues mean United must accelerate their efforts to make new signings and find new clubs for players they plan to offload. Securing Manuel Ugarte should be a top priority to strengthen the midfield, as many of their challenges last season stemmed from opponents easily bypassing Casemiro.

The injury to Yoro underscores the need for an additional centre-back. United have made headway with Matthijs de Ligt, but they need to meet Bayern Munich’s asking price to finalize the deal. There’s no benefit in negotiating a marginal reduction; it’s more practical to secure the Dutchman as quickly as possible. Additionally, a £15m ($19m) move for right-back Noussair Mazraoui seems likely.

However, Mazraoui's injury history is somewhat troubling. He has missed ten games over the past two seasons, including nearly two months due to heart inflammation. Despite making 26 Bundesliga starts for Bayern in two seasons, his injury record raises concerns given United’s persistent injury problems.

More sales needed

United must offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka before finalizing the deal for Noussair Mazraoui. However, Wan-Bissaka is not the only player who needs to be sold in the next month to bolster United’s transfer budget.

So far, the only departures have been Mason Greenwood, Donny van de Beek, and Willy Kambwala, which has brought in a total of £34m ($43m). With £94m already spent on Zirkzee and Yoro, and the club nearing the Premier League's profitability and sustainability limits, more funds are necessary.

Scott McTominay is a potential candidate for departure, with Fulham having recently offered £20m ($25m) for the midfielder. Casemiro is also available for transfer, though there has been limited serious interest in the Brazilian, United’s highest-paid player. Jadon Sancho might also leave, despite apparent reconciliations with manager Erik ten Hag.

Sancho’s reluctance to apologize to Ten Hag and his four-month struggle before reviving his career on loan at Borussia Dortmund remain fresh in memory. At 24, he has time to rejuvenate his career, and Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as a possible destination.

United's new CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, who began their roles last month, have made progress but face significant challenges. Their efforts to improve the squad are at risk of being overshadowed by the club’s persistent injury issues.

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