After an injury-plagued year, a Manchester United player has acknowledged that he has been “annoyed” at Old Trafford this season.
Throughout a painful season for the Dutchman, Erik ten Hag has dealt with a plethora of injury issues this year, with the Red Devils losing as many as thirteen players at one time.
The Red Devils have regressed following the former Ajax manager’s spectacular first campaign last season, as seen by their 12 losses thus far this season—the same number as they had during the entire previous campaign.
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is one player who has missed a significant amount of action this season, which is bad for the team.
Eriksen’s frustration
After joining the club in the summer of 2022 from Brentford, Eriksen originally had a good start to his career at Old Trafford but a dangerous scissor tackle from Reading striker Andy Carroll meant he was out for the majority of his debut campaign.
He has missed seven games since he suffered a knee injury against Luton Town back in November at Old Trafford but the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder looks to be on his way back and will soon be available for selection.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Eriksen told the United website when asked if he’ll be back soon. “Like you said, it was the first part in training with the team [on Monday] and it felt good, so it’s going well.
“I think it’s always annoying to be on the side, no matter for how long and definitely now. When it takes a little bit longer than you wished for, then obviously it’s hard, but no, I was eager to come back as soon as I could.”
A return for the midfielder could be key as Donny van de Beek, who was on the bench at Anfield, is on the verge of completing a loan move to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. Squad depth will be key for the Red Devils
Key midfielder back
To have Eriksen back, who was so important for the Red Devils last season, would be a big boost for Ten Hag, and had he been available for the trip to Anfield, a midfield trio of Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat could have been key.
The quality in possession Eriksen offers would have helped United in transition with Mainoo and Amrabat able to cover for the Dane’s lack of mobility in the middle of the park.
Having the Danish midfielder back will be key as squad depth will certainly be needed for the Red Devils as they prepare for a busy few weeks of winter football.
The return of the 31-year-old could be key.