It’s not all that common a club hires a new physio and his arrival is greeted with such a clamour of excitement. But, then again, it’s not all that common a club suffers quite so many injuries as Manchester United did in 2023/24.
As ‘glorious‘ as that FA Cup final triumph over Man City was, there is an understandable pang of frustration when you consider how many more points Erik ten Hag‘s side may have picked up in the Premier League had they not been without Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for long spells of the campaign.
Fortunately, better days may be around the corner.
The Guardian report that the impact of Gary O’Driscoll – Manchester United‘s head of sports medicine – had started to be felt late on last season. O’Driscoll was reportedly a key reason why Martinez and Varane were both fit to feature against City at Wembley.
Man United, The Athletic add, are now set to reunite O’Driscoll with Jordan Reece, the physio he worked with at Arsenal. One of Reece’s first tasks at Old Trafford, presumably, will revolve around getting Tyrell Malacia back on the pitch after he missed the entirety of 2023/24, much to the frustration of Ten Hag.
Manchester United boss hoping Tyrell Malacia’s luck changes
“Malacia hasn’t played a minute all season. He hasn’t even been on the training pitch once,” Ten Hag sighs, speaking to The Mirror about a man who impressed during his debut season in United red and was supposed to kick on in the following campaign.
“We had recruited Malacia at the start of last season precisely as a back-up for Luke Shaw. Those two options had to bring us a lot. The idea with Malacia was very good, and he just did well last season.
“But, this season, we never had him.”
Malacia’s absence is made all the more frustrating when you consider thatShaw only started 12 Premie League games himself. The £12.9 million signing from Feyenoord was the natural replacement, and would surely have benefitted immensely from a sustained spell in Ten Hag’s XI.
Instead, he is now looking to revive his Man United career from square one. Whether Malacia even gets the chance to do just that – with the Red Devils in the market for a new left-sided full-back – remains to be seen.
Tyrell Malacia fighting for Old Trafford future
“This season is by far the hardest season I have ever had,” Ten Hag adds. “Of everyone in the organisation, I have had the most contact with the club doctor this season.
“I think that says it all.”
In terms of potential left-back signings, here is interest in Melvin Bard. The Frenchman plays alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at Ineos-owned Nice.
HITC reported that United have also watched Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves, Bradley Locko of Brest, Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato and Real Betis flyer Juan Miranda.
The latter, however, has already named the club he wants to represent in 2023/24, his Betis contract expiring this summer.
“Would I like to renew with Betis? Yes, man,” former Barcelona prospect Miranda says. “We’ll see what happens.”