Erik ten Hag is set to cautiously reintegrate Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount into the Manchester United lineup as both players return to training ahead of their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
Following disappointing losses to Brighton and Liverpool before the international break, the Red Devils rebounded with a solid 3-0 victory at Southampton and a resounding 7-0 win against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
United’s focus now shifts to Saturday’s match at Selhurst Park, where Hojlund and Mount may return from their injuries. Hojlund has been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in Los Angeles, while Mount has missed the last three matches due to a muscle issue.
It’s very good news that they are back on the pitch,” Ten Hag remarked. “They are in team training, and we need to assess if they are fit enough to start. It’s encouraging to have them back in the squad, especially with so many games ahead.
The final decision will depend on how they recover after their training sessions. Both players had their debut seasons marred by injuries after joining from Atalanta and Chelsea, respectively. Mount missed 30 matches during the 2023-24 season, while Hojlund also faced significant absences.
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When discussing the need to handle their return carefully, Ten Hag noted, “In top football, you always push boundaries, and that’s unavoidable. However, with a full squad, it’s easier to manage the players’ load. Last season, we faced tough circumstances that forced us to overload players. This time, we aim to reintegrate them thoughtfully.”
United faced numerous injury challenges during Ten Hag’s second season, returning to Selhurst Park for the first time since a disheartening 4-0 defeat in May, which Ten Hag labeled the “worst defeat” of that campaign. However, he is optimistic about a much-improved performance this time.
There aren’t specific lessons from that experience,” he stated. “We know it will be a tough and aggressive match, but the circumstances are different now. We have a fit squad with at least 18 players ready to meet this challenge.”
When asked if the previous defeat serves as a reminder, Ten Hag replied, “No, definitely not. The 4-0 loss was deserved, but Saturday will be a different story.
