Man Utd 'launch major investigation' into injury issues after Erik ten Hag concern

Manchester United have launched an internal investigation into the excessive number of injuries Erik ten Hag’s side has endured in the early stages of the campaign, a report has claimed.

United have had their worst start to a Premier League season in 37 years, in part, due to a score of injuries inflicted on Ten Hag’s squad.

After eight Premier League games, United have already had 16 players out of action for a period.

Indeed, summer signings Rasmus Hojlund, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Sergio Reguilon are among several players who have been sidelined through injury, meaning Ten Hag has not yet been afforded the privilege of naming his preferred starting XI.

And it appears the club are now set to dig deeper and uncover why they have faced so many injuries.

According to the Mail, United officials are ‘actively’ inquiring to see whether there are any patters in a bid to help allay the ongoing fitness problems.

While some issues have been impact injuries, difficult for the club to influence, others have been muscular problems, which United will reportedly look to crack down on.

United staff are said to be attempting to determine whether or not those injuries have been sustained due to the high volume of games last season, with the World Cup mid-season having led to a convoluted domestic campaign.

Indeed, United and Manchester City played more games than any other team in the Premier League last year, such was their success in the cup competitions.

United hired former Arsenal head of medical services Gary O’Driscoll in the summer to fill a similar role at Old Trafford, with the recruit having only officially taken on the job last week.

Last month Ten Hag admitted that he was concerned by the number of injuries sustained by his side.

The Dutchman explained: "One thing is true, from the start of last season I almost never started with the best starting XI, it was always something like an injury.

"But you have to deal with it and we always get the results, apart from the period we are in now. It's a concern but that's why we constructed the squad with depth, so we can deal with it. The squad can deal with it.

"Injuries always come in top football because we're living on the edge and injuries are coming up. We analyse why things happen but we also have to deal with the facts and it's always about the players available. We have a strong side and we have to get the best out of it."

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