Image Credits: Getty Images
Over the past fortnight, Erik ten Hag has taken a 29-man Manchester United squad to the United States for this summer’s pre-season tour.
However, several first-team stars were notably absent from the trip.
Due to the scheduling of Euro 2024 and Copa America this summer, players who progressed to the latter stages of these international competitions were given extra time off to rest and recuperate.
With the Community Shield match against Manchester City just a week away, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Altay Bayindir, and Alejandro Garnacho all returned to Carrington on Friday to begin their preparations for the new season.
These returning players will not immediately join their teammates, who are set to face Liverpool in their final pre-season match in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Instead, they will focus on working on their fitness before integrating with the squad next week.
Alejandro Garnacho comes back to Manchester with a gold medal, having helped Argentina retain the Copa America title.
He received a warm welcome from teammate Rasmus Hojlund upon his arrival.
Hojlund welcomes Garnacho with a two-word message
Garnacho expressed his happiness on Instagram on Friday evening, posting a series of pictures of himself in action with the caption: “No place like home.”
Hojlund responded in the comments with a supportive message, simply writing: “My goat,” accompanied by a goat emoji.
United’s bright spots from last season included the promising performances of their young players, offering a glimpse into a potentially exciting future.
Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund stood out as key figures, often creating magic when playing together.
Unfortunately, it will be some time before this trio can combine again, as injuries continue to plague United.
Rasmus Hojlund, the Danish striker, sustained a hamstring injury during a match against Arsenal and is now expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
This injury means he will miss the opening stages of the new campaign. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo is still on holiday after helping England reach the Euro final but is expected to return early next week.
As Manchester United gears up for the new season, the return of these key players and their ability to regain match fitness will be crucial.
The anticipation builds for the Community Shield clash against Manchester City, and the team’s young talents, once fully fit, are expected to play a significant role in United’s pursuit of success this season.
The challenge now lies in managing player fitness and ensuring the squad is well-prepared for the competitive fixtures ahead.
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