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Whatever you have made of Manchester United’s performances so far this season, it is impossible to pass judgement without taking their injury crisis into account.
After securing a respectable third-placed finish and clinching their first piece of silverware in six years last season, United planned to build on last season’s successes this term. But as they prepare to resume their campaign against Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow, you can count their encouraging performances on just one hand.
Though United will make the relatively short trip to Merseyside as the Premier League’s form team, having won four of their last five, their performances have left a lot to be desired. They have secured each of their seven league wins this season by a one-goal margin.
But when you account for just how many injuries manager Erik ten Hag has had to contend with, it is hardly surprising that United have struggled for consistency. The Dutchman has constantly had to chop and change his XI as a direct result of the amount of injuries he has had to deal with
Thinking back to the start of the season, United’s first-choice XI, minus Rasmus Hojlund’s late arrival and a debate about who started on the right-wing, picked itself. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez locked out the centre-back berths, Luke Shaw owned the left-back spot and Mason Mount joined Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in midfield. Everyone had a clear picture in their minds of how United were meant to line up.
However, Ten Hag has been unable to deploy his preferred line-up because of the extent of the club’s injury crisis, which is still showing no signs of letting up. Confirmation on Friday evening that Mount is a doubt for the trip to Everton just about sums up his and United’s season so far.
With Christian Eriksen joining Casemiro on the sidelines with a knee injury just prior to the international break, the stage was set for Mount to make the most of the Dane’s absence and kickstart his United career. Now that he is a confirmed doubt for Sunday’s encounter, his hopes of forcing his way back into Ten Hag’s first-choice starting line-up have taken a dent.
Mount, in the opinion of most, was poised to join Fernandes in United’s engine room, supported by one other member of Ten Hag’s ever-reducing list of available options. Now, Fernandes is the only guaranteed starter in midfield, with the likes of Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo, Hannibal Mejbri and Mount, should he win his fitness battle, all vying for the two remaining spots.
Given United’s injury list, you could argue that Fernandes is one of only five players who could be guaranteed a starting berth for the Reds’ visit to Goodison Park. It is a scenario that hammers home the severity of the crisis Ten Hag is having to navigate.
Andre Onana has been deemed fit after suffering an injury scare on international duty with Cameroon and is expected to start in goal for the 19th game running. He is one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Though a decision is easy for Ten Hag to reach in the goalkeeping department, it is likely to be far less straightforward in defence. Harry Maguire deserves to keep his place after his recent resurgence, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka ought to be restored to the right-back berth after missing the win over Luton Town prior to the international break through illness.
As for who will join them in completing the back-four, it is much less clear-cut. Shaw is back in contention, but it remains to be seen if Ten Hag will throw him straight back into the starting line-up, and in which position. Those two factors make it difficult to identify the left side of the back-four.
Victor Lindelof could start at centre-back if Shaw is deployed at left-back, while Diogo Dalot could take the left-back spot if Shaw starts in the middle. It is a conundrum with a handful of answers.
At the other end of the pitch, uncertainty surrounding Hojlund’s fitness means it is not clear who will lead the line and start centrally in attack. Anthony Martial could fill in for the Dane, though Marcus Rashford could also be used centrally.
Rashford, though, could also start on either the left or the right. What you would say is that he will almost certainly start. Alejandro Garnacho’s and Antony’s places aren’t quite as secure.