There are concerns among Manchester United’s sporting chiefs regarding one particularly injury-plagued department this season.
As per Manchester World, INEOS could have their hand forced into the market in search of a new left-back at the end of the campaign due to apprehensions over Tyrell Malacia’s ‘long-term fitness’, as well as Luke Shaw’s troubling injury record.
Malacia marked the first-ever signing of Erik ten Hag’s tenure in the summer of 2022 when he arrived at Old Trafford from Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord. He played a rotational role on the left flank and was frequently utilised in Shaw’s absence, making 14 Premier League starts across the term and 29 in total across all competitions.
He went on to sustain a knee complaint on the final day of the 2022/2023 campaign against Fulham at home, which has seen him sidelined for the entirety of the 2023/2024 season thus far. United announced last December that the 24-year-old had suffered a setback in his rehabilitation, consequently delaying his return even further.
Shaw endures another injury-ridded campaign in red
As for Shaw, he’s had unbelievably dire luck on the injury front over the past decade. He joined United in 2014 and has since missed over 200 matches through injury, 23 of which have come this season through three separate layoffs. The England international is not expected back until around May, so it remains to be seen how much he will feature before the term concludes.
