Yet again this season, a consistent issue for Manchester United has been injuries, with new boss Ruben Amorim following in Erik ten Hag’s footsteps in having to make do with the limited options at his disposal.
A key setback notably occurred last month, following the close of the transfer window, with an already depleted attacking unit having been hampered even further amid the news that Amad Diallo could be out for the season with an ankle issue.
Thankfully, Amorim has since hinted that the Ivorian could potentially return before the campaign is out, although elsewhere, Lisandro Martinez is facing an extended period on the sidelines, after suffering an ACL blow earlier this year.
That represents the latest setback for the Argentine amid what has been an injury-hit few years at Old Trafford, with the defender having been restricted to just 14 appearances last season under Ten Hag.
Unfortunately for Amorim, while the players themselves will be more disappointed than anyone, far too many of his ranks could be branded with the ‘injury-prone tag’ – a fate that notably befell Champions League-winning midfielder, Owen Hargreaves.
Why Owen Hargreaves fell out with Fergie
‘One of the most disappointing signings of my career’.
Writing in his autobiography in 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson provided that blunt assessment of Hargreaves’ time at United, having also gone on to describe the decision to sign the England international as a ‘disaster’.
The experienced midfielder had actually enjoyed a promising start to life in Manchester after signing from Bayern Munich on a £17m deal in 2007, having ended that debut campaign with 34 appearances to his name, as the Red Devils claimed Premier League and Champions League glory.
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Man Utd’s starting XI – 2008 UCL final |
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GK – Edwin van der Sar |
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RB – Wes Brown |
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CB – Rio Ferdinand |
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CB – Nemanja Vidic |
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LB – Patric Evra |
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RM – Owen Hargreaves |
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CM – Paul Scholes |
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CM – Michael Carrick |
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LM – Cristiano Ronaldo |
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ST – Wayne Rooney |
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ST – Carlos Tevez |
In Europe, in particular, the Canadian-born star notably impressed after playing the full 120 minutes against Chelsea in the Moscow showpiece, having also curled in a crucial free-kick at home to Arsenal in the top-flight a month earlier.
Unfortunately for Hargreaves, that was about as good as it got as he swiftly faded from view over the next few years, eventually joining rivals Manchester City on a free transfer in 2011, having made just 39 appearances in total for the club.
Amid those injury woes, the Three Lions ace-turned-pundit spoke of the ‘break down’ in his relationship with Ferguson, with the pair seemingly holding differing views over his time on the sidelines.
As it is, it’s hard to say that the signing proved a success, with it looking as if that story could be repeating itself with regard to another England international, Mason Mount.
Man Utd star is in danger of becoming Hargreaves 2.0
As Amorim walked in the door back in November, it was telling that one of the few individuals the Portuguese singled out for praise was Mount, having hailed the ex-Chelsea man as a “proper footballer”.
Amid the arrival of a new manager, the Stamford Bridge academy product appeared in desperate need of a fresh start following an injury-hit first year or so under Ten Hag, with his only goal having come away at Brentford last season.
Unfortunately for Mount – who had actually started the first three games of the new campaign in all competitions – the 26-year-old has again been on the periphery in recent months, having only just made his return after being forced off in the early knockings of the Manchester Derby back in December.
Like Hargreaves, the playmaker arrived at Old Trafford with a strong reputation, having notably started in the 2021 Champions League final and Euro 2020 final, while providing 68 goals and assists in 195 games for the Blues.
Like his compatriot also, Mount looked like a worthwhile signing – even with the £55m price tag – due to his versatility, having operated on the flanks, in a number ten berth or in a deeper number eight role. Hargreaves, for instance, could feature at ‘right-back, wide right or central midfield’, as Ferguson noted.
Sadly, the £250k-per-week asset has so far made just 38 appearances for United – one fewer than Hargreaves – while contributing only one goal and one assist, with pundit Emmanuel Petit perhaps harshly criticising him for his “very fragile mentally”.
A return to the bench did occur for Mount against Leicester City last time out, however, with Amorim again highlighting the impact he could make when fit and firing:
“I really love Mason Mount. I see him and know how he suffered. I know how he does everything right – he eats right, his physical aspect is perfect. He’s trying too much. Maybe he is thinking too much about everything.”
As a player who notably reached double figures for goals and assists in the league while playing in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system back in 2021/22, it is easy to see why Amorim has so much faith in the midfielder, but time is running out for Mount to finally make his mark.
After two almost wasted years at Old Trafford, the £55m man is in danger of heading the way of Hargreaves as a marquee signing who has simply failed to deliver.
United’s number seven simply needs to stay fit and start producing, or his future could soon lie elsewhere…
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