Ten Hag avoids Greenwood questions as he confirms Man Utd injury boost; discusses Shaw ‘solutions’
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag refused to comment on Mason Greenwood’s situation but confirmed Rasmus Hojlund is “near” a return to action.
Greenwood is searching for a new team after it was mutually agreed he would leave the Red Devils on Monday following a six-month internal investigation into his conduct.
The 21-year-old England international was suspended by Man Utd in January 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Charges including attempted rape and assault were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in February this year but reports he was set to be retained by Man Utd were met with a public outcry.
And Ten Hag faced four questions on Greenwood during his pre-match press conference on Friday with the Dutchman refuses to comment on the player’s future.
“Look, we are not where we want to be with our team, I have a lot of work and a lot of focus on my team, so I focus on the players who are available,” Ten Hag said.
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“I only have statements about our performance, our squad, where we have to improve. Because it’s clear, we have to improve. I have to put every effort in to get the team to perform.
“I focus on the current squad and the players available. Once again, what Manchester United fans expect is a winning Manchester Unted and I’m responsible for that and I have to put all my effort and all my focus and make us play better than we do now.”
Hojlund, who signed from Atalanta for £72m earlier this summer, has missed all of pre-season with a back injury but Ten Hag has confirmed he is nearing a return, although Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest comes too soon.
Ten Hag added: “Not for tomorrow. (He’s) near. Today, for the first time, he came into team training so next week we expect him to do a full week of team trainings so he is near to the squad.
“We can’t [disclose their injuries], it’s personal these days, they will be for some period absent. Luke will be longer than Mason. Malacia will also take a few weeks before he will be back.”
Luke Shaw will be out for a number of weeks after picking up a muscle injury and there had been reports that Man Utd will now enter the transfer market for a short-term replacement.
When asked if there are options to cover his absence at the club, Ten Hag replied: “Definitely, we have the solutions in our squad to cope with that. We thought before the season about this scenario, it could happen, you hope to avoid. But if it happens you have to be ready for it.
“That is the situation, it’s normal, top football, you got to the limits, injuries coming up, always disappointing but you have to deal with it and construct a squad. And deal with it.”
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