“My best player is going to be out for the rest of the season…the medical team aren’t helping”: Manchester United suffer new injury blow as Erik ten Hag raises possible issues with medical staff

Manchester United’s Tyrell Malacia may miss the entire season due to a knee injury, as manager Erik ten Hag has discussed potential concerns with the team’s medical staff.

Malacia had a knee issue when he reported for preseason training in July. He had surgery and was expected to return in January, but he had a setback that necessitated additional surgery.

comrade in defense Ten Hag exercised the break clause in Sergio Reguilon’s season-long loan on January 2 because he was “assured” that Shaw and Malacia would be fit for action in the new year. Luke Shaw is expected to be out until May.

Shaw made his United debut on January 28 during their FA Cup fourth round victory over Newport County. However, he left the game at halftime of United’s 2-1 victory away to Aston Villa on February 11 due to an injury, and he hobbled off during the first half of the team’s victory at Luton one week later.

In the first half of the season, United had five left-backs on their roster, including Brandon Williams at Ipswich Town and Alvaro Fernandez at Granada on loan. Williams has not been included in an Ipswich matchday squad this year, while Fernandez moved to Benfica on loan in January. The loan agreement could become permanent if Fernandez plays a certain number of games.

While Williams has made one substitute appearance for his parent club since the 2021–22 season began, Fernandez has never played for the United first team.

Reguilon made seven starts for United, but in December, when he was the only left back available, he did not start against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. Aaron Wan-Bissaka moved to right back, and right back Diogo Dalot moved to left back.

See also: Man United loses a friendly game behind closed doors, raising new worries for Erik ten Hag
Shaw has made 15 starts so far this season, and United will undoubtedly finish the campaign without having used a specialist left back in the majority of their games.

Regarding the left back situation, Ten Hag remarked, “We talk about one of my biggest frustrations, there.” “It is understandable when a player is unavailable for a position, but it is extremely upsetting when two players miss the entire season due to injury or illness. As a team, we found it extremely challenging to catch up, but we handled it to the best of our abilities. Naturally, though, it is a drawback.

“I believe it will be challenging for him (Malacia) to be available this season. He’s back on the field and ready to fight, but he’s not part of the squad, and the season is almost over. He’s had some setbacks in the process and is still moving very slowly.

“I conducted internal discussions with the performance and medical staff in December. Shawn and Malacia gave me assurances that they would both be fit in January, so you will have two full-backs remaining.

“You have a third one after that, so I would always have to let one full back down.”

Ten Hag refuted the claim that, in contrast to their competitors, United lacked the depth of a quality squad to deal with injuries. Erling Haaland of Manchester City was injured for almost two months, and the Norwegian and Kevin De Bruyne have only started six games for the team this season.

Even so, City trails leaders Liverpool by just one point. Liverpool won the League Cup final without likely starters Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Dominik Szoboszlai. After routing Sparta Prague 5-1 in their round-of-16 first leg, Liverpool virtually advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals. Next week, they will play United in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

See also: Man United is getting ready to make a serious bid to sign a player for £103 million; the player could arrive at any moment.
Ten Hag remarked of Liverpool and City, “First of all, I don’t think they have had as many injuries as we have and in key positions.” Certainly, Haland was not available, but they still had Alvarez as a striker. It’s not a terrible substitute.

For example, we have had two injuries at our left full-back position nearly the entire season. Liverpool is a prime example, in my opinion. They experienced the same thing last year and struggled to handle it.