Just 5 days before the Premier League’s traditional curtain-raiser, the Community Shield match against neighbors Manchester City, the injury crisis affecting senior players has intensified, especially after their last preseason game against Premier League rivals Liverpool, where they were defeated 3-0 by Arne Slot’s men.
Erik ten Hag provided an update on the status of his squad following the conclusion of Tour 2024, presented by Snapdragon, and several senior players may likely not be available for the game on Saturday.
Having lost 18-year-old prospect Leny Yoro, who joined the club this summer and is out with a 3-month injury, and Rasmus Højlund in their game against Arsenal, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, and Jonny Evans, who all started the game against Liverpool, were withdrawn at various stages—each appearing to be another injury setback for the club.
“Always, we have to see what has gone on,” the boss said in his post-match interview with MUTV.
“The assessment, of course, with Will Fish is that it’s an impact injury. We also had to substitute Jonny Evans at half-time because he was ill. Victor Lindelöf was a precaution. So, yeah, there are some injuries, but we have to see how bad they will be.”
Ten Hag asserted that Harry Maguire, who has been nursing an injury before the 2024 European Euros and was left out of the matchday squad against Liverpool for precautionary reasons, would also be assessed:
“Preseason is always tough. But, yeah, Harry Maguire, as a precaution, was left out,” Ten Hag said before kick-off in South Carolina.
“And we had, of course, some injuries, but that is part of club football. We have to develop our team and make good progress.”
