Man Utd 'launch investigation' into Erik ten Hag's squad

Stuart Telford

• 15 Oct 2023 09:07 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United are reportedly set to launch an investigation into why as many as eight first-team members have been missing at once for Erik ten Hag due to injury.

United have endured a difficult start to the season, sitting 10th in the Premier League table having won four and lost four of their eight games to date.

That figure of eight players has been 16 in total since the start of the season, with Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount - summer arrivals from Atalanta and Chelsea respectively - among those affected.

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Ten Hag is yet to field his first-choice XI as a result, and now the club are looking for answers.

"Manchester United have launched an investigation into why their first-team squad has suffered so many injuries," repots the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan. "Officials from the Old Trafford side's medical department are actively seeking to identify whether any patterns exist.

O'Driscoll poached from Arsenal

"United have strengthened their medical department, taking Gary O'Driscoll from Arsenal as head of sports medicine."

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O'Driscoll was appointed before the current spate of injuries, but it is clear that United are playing too many games. Between December and the end of last season they played 41, which was more than Aston Villa played across the whole campaign.

The injuries have significant implications for United's transfer strategy. With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both sidelined, Sofyan Amrabat, who joined on loan from Fiorentina, has been deployed at left-back despite helping Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals as a midfielder.

Lisandro Martinez has an impact injury that might not have been possible to prevent, but his downtime contributed to United re-signing the 35-year-old Jonny Evans, whilst also handing a lifeline to Harry Maguire.

The former club captain was close to joining West Ham for £30 million in the summer, but rejected the move to East London over the drop in his wages.