Ten Hag to bed Hojlund, Mount in carefully when they return for Man Utd

Hojlund has been out with a hamstring problem picked up in July's pre-season friendly against Arsenal in Los Angeles, while Mount has missed the last three matches with a muscle complaint.

"It's very good news they are back on the pitch," Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. "We have to decide whether they are fit enough to start but it is very pleasing they are fit and back in the squad. We have so many games in this block to cover, so very happy."

The pair cost United a combined £120 million ($158 million) just over a year ago but had injury-disrupted first seasons at Old Trafford. They were not alone as the Red Devils were frequently beset by the loss of key players last season and paid the price by finishing eighth in the Premier League.

Ten Hag is keen to avoid a repeat of such an injury crisis that nearly cost him his job. "When you have a full squad available then it's easier to manage the load," added Ten Hag. "When you are in circumstances like last season and there is a need to play, then also you have to overload them. We hope we can integrate them in a very careful way."

The nadir of a miserable league campaign arguably came at Selhurst Park in May when United were thrashed 4-0 by Palace. Ten Hag is confident there will be no such repeat with his squad in far better shape for the trip to south London this weekend.

"We know what will come to us, we know it's always tough, it is always aggressive there but we know also the circumstances and you can't compare this," he said. "We didn't have a fit squad. We had even one, two players that were maybe up to 20 percent to play, but we had to play them.

"This time is totally different. We have now a fit squad. We have definitely 18 players who are capable to go into this good challenge for us."

Ten Hag's men go into the game on a high after scoring more than four goals in a game under the Dutch coach for the first time in Tuesday's 7-0 thrashing of third-tier Barnsley in the League Cup. United also beat Southampton 3-0 last weekend to bounce back from consecutive Premier League defeats to Brighton and Liverpool.

 

September 19, 2024