10 January 2024 , 02:00
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Erik ten Hag hopes to have Christian Eriksen, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire in contention for returns to Manchester United ’s starting line-up against Tottenham on Sunday.
But the head coach said United will remain without Mason Mount among several other sidelined stars until after the mid-season break. Ten members of the first-team squad missed out on last night’s FA Cup third-round win against Wigan Athletic. However Ten Hag believes the injury crisis will soon ease.
“Yeah, I think there will be some players, I think it’s hopeful that they can be back at the weekend,” Ten Hag said after the 2-0 win over their League One opponents. “So I’m talking about Christian Eriksen, potentially Luke Shaw, Harry maybe. Mason, I think he needs some days or a week more.”
Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof also remain absent, while Sofyan Amrabat is on international duty and Jadon Sancho is expected to leave the club in the coming weeks.
But Ten Hag refused to be drawn on whether the shortage of options will lead to United bolstering the squad in the transfer window. “We consider everything, so what is the best interests of the player and what is the best interest of us, for our team and for Manchester United,” he added. “We will see how it progresses during the window.”
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Ten Hag admitted United should have scored more goals against Wigan but it was the result that mattered most. Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes struck either side of half time to ensure no upset against the third tier outfit.
"The FA Cup is all about winning. It’s a knockout. If you have to replay [the tie], it’s two games, but you want to finish the job and that’s exactly the words I used in the dressing room: ‘Job done’,” Ten Hag said.
Harry Maguire is closing in on a return to full fitness (Matt West/REX/Shutterstock)"We created in the first half five or six very good chances. It was, I think, good football and we should have taken more from that, but if you don’t score, you have to stay focused and I think that is also what we did."
And while United will be huge favourites to beat either Newport County or non-League Eastleigh to secure their place in the fifth round, Ten Hag said it is far too early to be dreaming of lifting another trophy at Wembley.
He added: "I think that is too far [away], you have to go from game to game, especially in the cup. So we take that, but now, first, all our focus is on Spurs [in the Premier League], of course."