'A beast of a week' - Manchester United injury woes explained and why problem could get worse

Six days, three games and a shade under 4,500 miles travelled will test Manchester United both on and off the pitch.

The Premier League trip to Everton on Sunday kicks off an away triple header which ends with Newcastle United next Saturday and contains a crucial Champions League tie in Turkey against Galatasaray in between. It's a critical week for Erik ten Hag's side on the pitch and it could also be a pivotal period off it as United continue to manage an injury crisis which has blighted their season.

The Reds lost Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund to injury in their win against Luton Town before the international break and although Luke Shaw is back in contention, the absentee list could stretch to nine for the fixture at Goodison Park. Injuries have been a recurring theme at Old Trafford this season with United having had 14 players sidelined, a Premier League high.

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It prompted Ten Hag to say: "Players can't deal anymore with this overload," in September. "Every time the schedule is expanding, the load on the players is too much. It's such a great overload. Many colleagues of mine have pointed to that and I have pointed to that as well. But it keeps going. We keep expanding the schedule."

Ten Hag's view is shared by the majority of top-flight managers, with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola having been consistent critics of the schedule. United are suffering more than most at the moment, with almost a full team on the treatment table, and their next few days are a recipe for that number to be extended.

Physiotherapist Craig Lea, owner