United injuries ‘are Van Gaal’s fault’

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has laid the blame for the Red Devils' injury crisis at the feet of new boss Louis van Gaal.

Chris Smalling, who has already missed time with two separate injuries this season, became the latest United player to go down, limping off with a groin strain during Monday's win over Southampton. Summer signings Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Luke Shaw are all also on the shelf, while Marcos Rojo, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Rafael and Phil Jones have all missed time this season. Despite the absences, Van Gaal and United have turned things around following a shaky start to the campaign, with the 2-1 win at St Mary's their fifth in a row. But former Fergie number two Phelan insists the Dutchman is continuing to risk his players' fitness, highlighting the arrival of fitness specialist Jos van Dijk.

‘What’s happened is a continuation of the same players getting injured all the time, so you have to look to the reasons why,’ Phelan told the Daily Mail.

‘I think Manchester United changed their thoughts on the fitness regime. They looked at it a little bit differently. Tony Strudwick, who was operating as head of sports science and was involved day to day with the first-team. He understood the ins and outs of how to keep players fit, how to keep them ready for competition.

‘Then suddenly they moved him sideways and did something completely different. That may have had an effect. That one area has changed.

‘They’ve brought in new people with a different way of doing things. The intensity of training may be one thing – it may be too intense, or not intense enough – but obviously slight changes have been made with the present way of doing things.

‘I would have thought the squad is big enough at Manchester United, because they can go out and get players in, but obviously they keep breaking down and they don’t seem to be getting any better. They seem to get one back and lose another two.’