Staff changes and new methods - how Manchester United improved their injury record

It was an ominous start to the season for Manchester United when Erik ten Hag revealed four players were doubts for the Community Shield. Only Harry Maguire recovered to board the train at Stockport Station.

Victor Lindelof, removed at half-time in United's final pre-season tour game as a "precaution", has not played in more than seven weeks. Luke Shaw, who last appeared for United on February 18, returned for pre-season training, did not participate in a full team training session and sustained a calf injury. Aaron Wan-Bissaka's 'injury' conveniently coincided with his transfer to West Ham United.

Since that bleak bulletin on August 8, United have had one injury. Mason Mount's half-time withdrawal at Brighton forced him to miss three matches, a short lay-off for a player sidelined for four months at one stage last season.

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Shaw, Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Leny Yoro are the only patients at a sparser medical department at Carrington. Malacia is taking baby steps back into team training as he sees the light at the end of a long and dark tunnel while Lindelof, at the back of the centre-back pecking order, is now back.

If Shaw returns sometime soon, Ten Hag will be able to quote compatriot Louis van Gaal. "Only one player injured," he confirmed with a smile as broad as a Cheshire Cat. "Can you believe it?" That was in January 2015, additional evidence that United's injury crises pre-dated Ten Hag.

This season, Ten Hag is rotating pre-match and in-game to maintain squad freshness. On Mount's second half no-show at Brighton, Ten Hag said: "He had an issue, he mentioned an issue