Man Utd take on Everton in their return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been all doom and gloom for Manchester United this season, especially on the injury front.
Erik ten Hag’s side has seriously regressed on all the progress made last season. Though the buck stops at the manager and he will be held responsible if things haven’t turned around come May, it’s impossible not to caveat the terrible start with the injury crisis suffered.
United have often been without up to 12 players for matches, have been without their first choice back four for long periods and practically every single position has suffered at least one casualty. Every side on the planet would struggle under such circumstances.
So it was a relief this week ahead of United’s return to Premier League action that there was finally some good news on the injury front. Andre Onana has been declared fit to play after suffering a knock on international duty but the big news is that Luke Shaw is set to be involved for the first time since August.
The left-back has been sidelined with a muscle injury for months and his absence has been keenly felt. United have been frail at the back and not as potent down the left without Shaw.
Of course, the good news is offset with some bad. Mason Mount has been added to the injury list with a reported calf strain, Rasmus Hojlund remains a doubt due to the injury he suffered against Luton while Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia are all still sidelined.
The injuries in the middle of the park are particularly concerning. Ten Hag had bemoaned the lack of balance in his midfield but Eriksen was just developing a good partnership with Scott McTominay before his injury.
With Casemiro and now Mount also sidelined Ten Hag has precious few options available to him. The only other senior midfielder fit is Sofyan Amrabat but the Morrocan has made a poor start to life at Old Trafford and is yet to show he is cut out for the highest level.
A midfield pairing of Amrabat and McTominay hardly screams technical proficiency, either. But if not Amrabat, the only other choices are moving Bruno Fernandes into a deeper position and bringing in Hannibal or starting Kobbie Mainoo in his first appearance of the season.
The teenager has quality but sticking him in from the start in the molten cauldron that will be an aggrieved Goodison Park is taking a risk, regardless of his quality.
Whatever Ten Hag decides, it’s not going to be ideal. But at least Everton won’t be at their strongest in the middle either.
Sean Dyche has revealed ahead of the meeting that Amadou Onana is a doubt. “Ama’s calf, I don’t think it will be right. It’s still sore,” Dyche said on Friday. “The other lads, three of them had a game in the week including Lewis Dobbin who is slightly younger but the three older boys, Ben (Godfrey), Keano (Michael Keane) and Seamus (Coleman) all played so that’s good getting them some minutes and Seamus came through no problem.”
Onana has become one of Everton’s most important players in the heart of the side, so much so that he was linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer. If he is out of the game, United’s makeshift midfield partnership at least won’t be coming up against such a fearsome opponent.
It’s a small boost, but United have to take what they can get.
