Erik ten Hag insists no club would have coped with Man United’s injury woes…as he likens the imminent return of stars including Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Mason Mount to making ‘five or six new signings’
- United are preparing to welcome a host of first-team regulars next month
- The Old Trafford club's season has been dogged by injuries all over the pitch
- Has the defeat to Man United exposed a chink in Aston Villa's armor? It all starts
Erik ten Hag insists no club could have withstood Manchester United's injury problems and has likened his return to injury next month to 'five or six new signings'.
Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia are all expected to return in mid-January. Now that Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo are back, Ten Hag is looking forward to a stronger team for the second half of the season.
The Dutchman is not expecting any reinforcements in time for Saturday night's away trip to Nottingham Forest, but believes United will be a match for any team in the Premier League once they return to full strength.
We expect many players to return in mid-January: Mason, Casemiro, Martinez, Malacia, so of course we expect Harry Maguire,” said Ten Hag, adding that Antony Martial is still “unwell”.
'I think we are very optimistic. If the players return and luck is on our side in terms of injuries, we will have five or six new signings in January.
Ten Hag insists no club could have withstood Manchester United's injury problems this season
Mason Mount is seen during Manchester United training for the first time since November
'I don't think any team can cope with so many setbacks. We are not satisfied, but you have to be satisfied with the number of points.
'When we got all the players back we proved it against Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa, one two and three (in the league), we went against each other. We could have won all the games. We showed how hungry we are, the determination and the right mentality.
'It showed once again that this team is strong, even though many players are not on board. Even then, we can compete and face the strongest teams in this league. When the players are back, we can beat anyone if the mentality is right. It's up to us.'
Ten Hag is preparing to lose goalkeeper Andre Onana to the Africa Cup of Nations after being called up by Cameroon.
Onana will play for Forest as United continue talks over when to release their £47.2million goalkeeper, who will replace number 2 Altay Bayindir. Sofyan Amrabat will join Morocco, although Hannibal Mejbri has withdrawn from the Tunisia squad.
“We have built the squad in such a way that we are prepared for this scenario,” the United manager added. “The situation is that we are talking. We have good relations with all federations. It's also about Sofyan and Hannibal.'
Ten Hag has not shed any light on the contract situation regarding Raphael Varane, Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof and Mejbri, who are all set to become free agents in the summer.
Andre Onana will play for Forest as United continue talks over when to release their £47.2m goalkeeper for the Africa Cup of Nations
It is understood United will give 12-month contract extensions to Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof and Mejbri, who could be loaned out in January.
However, Martial may wind down the remainder of his current deal and leave while talks with Varane continue.
United are said to be willing to offer Varane a new contract on lower wages but are reluctant to extend his current £340,000-a-week deal.
“We talk to the players and of course their agents,” said Ten Hag. “So this is an internal process between us, the club and the players, and I cannot debate this.”
