'Asking for trouble' - Manchester United pre-season tour and injuries questioned by former coach

Rene Meulensteen has questioned how much 'rest and recovery' Manchester United's players are given after a pre-season tour that was blighted by different injury concerns.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans started in the final friendly of the United States tour last weekend and all were substituted.

Will Fish was also taken off on a stretcher against Liverpool and those injuries followed issues picked up by Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring) and Leny Yoro (metatarsal) in the States.

Hojlund is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks, which means he'll be absent at the start of the new season, while new signing Yoro is facing two months out of action. United's defensive options are already limited and they are looking to sign a new centre-back.

ALSO READ: The three United youngsters set for first team squad roles

ALSO READ: 'This is my club' - every word of Ten Hag's Q&A with journalists

United suffered an unprecedented injury crisis last season, which caused multiple problems for Erik ten Hag, and the team's preparation for the 2023/24 campaign was scrutinised.

Just like this summer, United travelled to the USA for their pre-season tour in 2023, although the fixtures involved more travelling, which was tougher for the players.

Meulensteen spent six years as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant manager and helped oversee multiple pre-season tours during his time as the legendary Scot's right-hand man.

"Pre-season tours are a pain from my experience with Manchester United," Meulensteen told BoyleSports. "Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill managed it really well by keeping the commercial activity at an arm's length because if that is getting the upper hand, you're asking for trouble.

"In terms of the injuries, it