Erik ten Hag has provided a welcome boost, with a trio of Man United players set to make their returns before the end of the season.
Manchester United Football Club have had a season that has been disrupted by injuries with each passing game. Two players come back, another three are lost – or at least that is what it has felt like all campaign long.
Erik ten Hag has been keen to not use it as an excuse, rather seeing it as an opportunity for other players to leave their mark. Some lads have taken their chances. Others haven’t.
Perhaps the only meaningful game left in the calendar is an FA Cup final at Wembley against Manchester City. Win there and the term, on the whole, has a very different feel. Lose and Ten Hag probably gets the sack.
I’ve been wondering if we’ll see any players make their comebacks in time to play in that match and during his pre-Burnley press conference, Ten Hag confirmed that’s exactly the case.
The gaffer provided a welcome injury boost, confirming that a trio of long-term injury absentees wirll return this season. All of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Anthony Martial are expected back.
When asked whether Shaw, Martinez and Martial will return this season, Ten Hag said:
“Yes, I think so,” he replied per ManUtd.com. “I think we are all going to see them [again] in this season.”
“They returned, all three onto the pitch. Next week, they have to make a step into team training and we think they can be available for the last weeks [of the season]. They are progressing well.”
First and foremost, I’d like to think United have learned from their mistakes and they’re not rushing any of these guys back. The last thing they need as individuals is to be hit with another mental and physical blow – particularly in Martinez’s case.
Then, there’s the question of whether these guys will be fit enough in time to start the FA Cup final. Obviously, they can’t just leap straight off the treatment table into such a high calibre match. They all need time to build up fitness and get themselves back up to match speed. That takes numerous weeks, hence, these guys are already in a race against time.
It goes without saying, having both Shaw and Martinez back starting games in time for this Wembley showpiece would be absolutely huge. I still have my doubts about whether they’ll be ready in time, but we can only hope…
Do you think the returns of these players will help Man United win the FA Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
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