Manchester United might be contributing to their own injury problems this season

Manchester United have suffered more than most when it comes to injuries this season - but new data indicates they could be contributing to their own problems in some part.

Players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain in the Carrington treatment room while the squad have also been made to deal without Raphael Varane, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and others at times this campaign. Games continue to come thick and fast.

However, while the intense schedule and training workload is a contributor to such setbacks, there is at least one in-house measure United could use to ease any ongoing concerns. It has been flagged up by new data from world players' union Fifpro.

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According to their findings, United captain Bruno Fernandes played more minutes than any other elite player from September 15 2022 to the same date this year. The 29-year-old playmaker totted up 6,666 minutes in 72 games for club and country over the course of that timeframe.

His teammate Marcus Rashford also featured in the top ten on 66 matches. That data was collated in conjunction with Football Benchmark and monitored 1,800 elite footballers from across the planet including 1,500 men and 300 women. Manchester City had four players in the top ten.

Of course, success and playing in various competitions is a significant factor - with United reaching both cup finals domestically last season - but it also hints United and City have been less inclined to rotate their important players than some of the other top-level competitors.

Speaking only last month about intense workloads, United manager Erik