Ten Hag insists no club would have coped with Man United's injury woes

Erik ten Hag insists no club could have withstood Manchester United’s injury problems, and has likened having his walking wounded back in action next month to making ‘five or six new signings’.

Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia are all expected to return in mid-January. With Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo also due back, Ten Hag is looking forward to having a stronger squad for the second half of the season.

The Dutchman isn’t expecting any reinforcements in time for Saturday evening’s trip to Nottingham Forest, but believes United will be a match for any team in the Premier League once they are full strength again.

We expect many players to return in mid-January: Mason, Casemiro, Martinez, Malacia, so we expect Harry Maguire, of course,’ said Ten Hag, adding that Antony Martial is still ‘unwell’.

‘I think we are very optimistic. When the players return and now the luck is a little bit on our side in the matter of injuries, then we have five or six new signings in January.

‘I think not any team can deal with so many setbacks we had. We are not satisfied but you have to be pleased with the number of points.

‘When we have all the players back, we proved it against Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa, one two and three (in the league), we went to head-to-head. We could have won all the games. We showed how hungry we are, the determination ad right mentality.

‘It showed once again this squad is strong even with many players not on board. Even then, we can compete and go head-to-head with the strongest teams in this league, When the players are back we can beat anyone if the mentality is right. It’s up to us.’

Ten Hag is preparing to lose goalkeeper Andre Onana to the Africa Cup of Nations