Ten Hag keeps Højlund and Mount secret to avoid injury crisis | Manchester United

Erik ten Hag says he has learned lessons from having to select players who were not fully fit last season. The Manchester United manager has no plans to recall Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace as he seeks to avoid a repeat of previous injury crises.

Mount started the Community Shield and the opening two Premier League games in August before being withdrawn at half-time with a hamstring injury in the defeat to Brighton, and Højlund has yet to feature due to a hamstring injury. Mount missed 30 games through injury last season, his first since joining from Chelsea.

“Careful and top football – you always push to the limit,” Ten Hag said. “It’s unavoidable, but when you have a full squad available, it’s easier to manage the load. When you’re in circumstances like last season and there was a need to play, we had to overload them.

“It’s very good news that they’re back on the field, they’re training in the gym again. We have to decide if they’re fit enough to start, but it’s very nice that they’re fit and back in the selection. We have a lot of games in this block, so (we’re) very happy. We hope that we can integrate them in a very careful way.”

On United’s most recent visit to Selhurst Park in May, they were beaten 4-0 by Oliver Glasner’s team on a dismal night for Ten Hag. “We know the conditions and you can’t compare. We didn’t have a fit squad, we even had one or two players who could play maybe 20%. But we had to let them play. This time it’s completely different. We have a fit squad. We have absolutely 18 players who are capable of taking on this good challenge for us.”

Asked if a 4-0 defeat could happen again, Ten Hag said: “No, absolutely not. It was clear. It was a 4-0 – fully deserved – but it will be different on Saturday.”