Inside Manchester United’s “Injury Crisis”: John Murtough Speaks | OneFootball

Manchester United’s John Murtough Addresses Injury Crisis Under Erik ten Hag

In the midst of a turbulent season for Manchester United, football director John Murtough has opened up about the club’s ongoing battle with injuries. The Red Devils have found themselves in a precarious position, with six defeats in their first 11 matches, including setbacks in both of their Champions League group stage encounters. Despite a promising start under manager Erik ten Hag, United’s progress has been hampered by an exceptionally long list of injuries.

Assessing the Extent of the Crisis

Currently, Manchester United is grappling with the absence of six key players who are sidelined for the long term. Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, and Amad Diallo are all nursing injuries. Additionally, senior defender Raphael Varane and summer signing Mason Mount have faced extended spells on the treatment table, further exacerbating their woes. Sergio Reguilon, initially signed on loan from Tottenham Hotspur as left-back cover, has also been sidelined due to injury in recent weeks.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: a general view of the stadium during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United, ManU and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on September 26, 2023 in Manchester, England. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications Manchester United v Crystal Palace – Carabao Cup Third Round Copyright: xSebastianxFrejx

Unveiling the Investigation

Recent reports in The Daily Mail revealed that Manchester United has initiated an investigation into the root causes of their injury crisis. Murtough confirmed this development during a fan forum, shedding light on the club’s perspective. “There are some strong mitigations for the mixed results so far, including 16 first-team players being injured or unavailable for periods since the start of the season,” he explained. “That’s two-thirds of the squad and means that Erik has not been able to pick his strongest XI once this season. Thankfully, we’ve started to see some of the injured players returning, and that should make a difference, including our new signings Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, who are still bedding into the team.”

Seeking Solutions

Murtough indicated that the club is actively examining the injury patterns to improve prevention in the future. While some injuries have been the result of unpredictable impact incidents, such as Kobbie Mainoo’s and Amad Diallo’s, others have been muscular in nature, potentially linked to the high volume of games played over the past year, including the previous year’s World Cup.

A Glimpse of Hope

Despite the adversity, Manchester United managed to secure a crucial victory just before the October international break. Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time brace paved the way for a dramatic 2-1 win against Brentford. With injured players gradually returning to the fold, the team is hopeful that they can turn the tide and find consistency.

Upcoming Challenges

The Red Devils will face a challenging test as they return to action next Saturday evening with a trip to Sheffield United, a team battling relegation. As they aim to navigate through their injury crisis, the focus remains on steadying the ship and recapturing their winning form.