Medical Expert: Up to 19 Man United stars at ‘huge risk’ amid ‘long Covid’ reveal
Covid-hit stars at Man United are at “huge risk” of injuries when they return from isolation.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
United have today (15 December) confirmed that their clash with Brighton, which was scheduled for Saturday (18 December), has now been postponed.
The Telegraph reported yesterday that there are 19 positive cases at the club, though there is no breakdown in terms of the player-staff ratio.
Dinnery explains that United’s players will be particularly susceptible to injuries when they eventually return to competitive action.
“There is huge risk of injuries,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Just because a player is coming to the end of his isolation period, that doesn’t mean the symptoms dissipate.
“We have seen the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles suffer with long Covid.
“When you have a squad that have several injuries on top of Covid, that puts additional strain on player availability.
“Players may therefore be asked to perform even though they are not at optimum levels.
“There’s no way of replicating that high-charged competitive environment, even if you have maintained base levels of fitness during isolation.
“Fatigue is inherently one of the biggest risk factors in picking up injuries.”
Besides the unnamed positive Covid cases, United have eight players currently sidelined.
Their next match is scheduled for 27 December when they will face relegation strugglers Newcastle United.
In other news, pundit suggests “big” stumbling block preventing Anthony Martial from quitting Man United.