Erik ten Hag hits back at Wayne Rooney’s injury claims about Man United squad

Erik ten Hag has hit back against Wayne Rooney’s suggestions that some Manchester United injured players can play.

After United’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, the club’s top goalscorer, Rooney, appeared to question the players who are currently injured.

You look at the injuries and some of those players could play; 100 percent,” he told Sky Sports.

“I have seen it myself over the years. I just think the players who have been injured are not filling themselves with any credit at the minute.”

United’s injury crisis this term has been stark, with over 60 different cases of illness or injury throughout the season.

However, when asked about Rooney’s comments, Erik ten Hag refuted the claims and explained how the players out of action are ‘desperate’ to return to action.

“I think you have to see here in Carrington the players are desperate to play,” Ten Hag told reporters. “I see Licha Martinez, I see Bruno Fernandes – he did a fitness test on Sunday to play. Marcus Rashford did everything he could do.

“He trained and tried to train last week, but he didn’t make it. Players are desperate to play, they want to be in the right shape.

“You see also Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane, they are training to make themselves available for the final. They do what they can do.”

United face up against Newcastle in their final Old Trafford clash this season on Wednesday evening and Ten Hag has received some good news for the Premier League encounter.

“Licha Martinez, I think he will return to the squad,” added Ten Hag. “He has had some sessions with us and we plan for him to be available.

“If everything goes right in the training, he will return to the squad. For some other players – Rashford, Bruno, Willy Kambwala – we have to see if they are fit enough.

“We plan for Varane, definitely for the last games. Not Newcastle, but we hope for Sunday and then, of course, for the last game of the season, the FA Cup final.”