CALIFORNIA STEAMING
Two injury scares for Ten Hag as new man Yoro and Hojlund are forced off in Arsenal defeat
THE injury problems continued to mount for Manchester United after Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Leny Yoro were both forced off in the defeat to Arsenal.
Hojlund scored after 10 minutes at So-fi Stadium in Los Angeles but suffered a hamstring injury five minutes later, while £59million defender Yoro went off with an ankle issue after half-an-hour.
United’s campaign was sabotaged by injuries last season, with 66 separate issues keeping players out, as Erik ten Hag’s side limped to a worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth.
That injury curse struck again against Arsenal, with United now facing an anxious wait to learn the full extent of the injuries suffered by Hojlund (circle) and Yoro, two key players for Ten Hag.
The United boss said: “Of course it’s too short (to know about their injuries). We have to wait over 24 hours, then we will hopefully know more.
“We were careful, especially with
Leny, as he only did 50 percent of the training sessions. He has to come up, but let’s be positive and see what comes out.”
Hojlund would only say “we’ll see” when asked about his injury as he left the stadium following United’s 2-1 defeat, his goal cancelled out by Gunners striker Gabriel Jesus, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the winner (right).
Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag (watching from the touchline, below right) added: “I think it was a very good level for the third week of pre-season, from both sides.
“In the first half, I thought we were the better team. We scored a very good goal, a very good ball in behind from Marcus Rashford and then Rasmus with a very good move and finish. “In such situations he’s very strong, a threat for every defence and he has those scoring abilities.
“So I was very pleased. We also created some more good chances and we then conceded the goal, which was offside.”
United face Real Betis in San Diego on Wednesday, before concluding their three-game US tour against rivals Liverpool in North Carolina on Saturday.