Nine Manchester United players are already at a disadvantage ahead of new Premier League season

The international break is the source of much frustration for many Manchester United fans. Whether the team is trying to find form or maintain it, players having to leave and join up with their national teams both kills momentum but also allows the opportunity for a number of injuries.

However, the most recent international break seems the most problematic. With an already packed 2021/22 season having just finished, many would have expected that players would have been given the chance to rest and recuperate before pre-season starts, but instead many have joined up with their national team to compete in a number of friendlies and also the Nations League.

United's pre-season starts on the 27th of June, though these players will be given extra time to rest up before the start of the new era at Old Trafford. This seems incredibly short-sighted given that the Qatar World Cup will take place in November and the schedule will be packed, with it already being announced that European fixtures will likely extend after Christmas.

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Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Elanga, Fred, Alex Telles, Facundo Pellistri, Scott McTominay and Raphael Varane have all taken part in international football this summer. United are also interested in Frenkie de Jong and Jurrien Timber, who have been key parts of Louis van Gaal's Netherlands squad.

Varane has suffered another injury and United fans pointed to burnout as a major cause for Maguire's drop-off in form this season. Others have also stated that Ronaldo improved once he was not forced to play two games a week, but that will be the new normal in the