Manchester United boss Marc Skinner was “disappointed” to have players returning from the international break injured, with several ruled out of the squad for today’s win over Leicester.
“The international break has been particularly cruel to us with the injuries we’ve taken,” the manager admitted after United’s 2-0 home win in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Embed from Getty Images“Really when we leave our players and they go out to international, we leave them in a good space, I’d hope they return in that way unless it’s an impact or a knock or so on. So I’m a little bit disappointed in that some of our players have come back in that way.”
United’s growing injury list
When the team sheet came out for Sunday’s match, there was cause for concern with striker Elisabeth Terland, full-backs Anna Sandberg and Jayde Riviere, and midfielder Simi Awujo all missing.
Skinner shed light on the four absentees, revealing that Anna Sandberg had a sickness bug and should return soon.
He added: “[Terland] took a wrist injury, I think it was a fall… we’re hopeful over the next couple of weeks we can get her back. She took a small break to her wrist but you can manage these things with splints and so on.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe manager also revealed there were injuries to Canadian duo Simi Awujo and Jayde Riviere. “Jayde was a muscle injury. She played two games back to back which is… you’ve got to look at loading. Which for us is disappointing. And Simi took a knock in training, which again happens, but for me, it’s about ensuring that they come back.
Skinner went on to add: “It’s really important that as they go away on international duty they’re returned as best they can be because they want to come and play into this exciting end of the season.
Embed from Getty Images“We love our academy but we had three kids on the bench, and that’s part and parcel of where we’re at when we take injuries to a small squad.
“It does show that we need to continue to invest in our squad to keep the depth if we want to challenge in many competitions over the next few years.”
He also praised Aoife Mannion and Melvine Malard for stepping up in Riviere and Terland’s spots, and said Lisa Naalsund’s return from injury should come soon.
Read more of Skinner’s reaction to United’s win here.
