Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has bemoaned the team’s fitness issues ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa. The Red Devils, fresh from a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United at the weekend, will host Aston Villa on boxing day.

Goals from Jerrard Bowen and Muhammad Kudus secured the win for the Hammers on Saturday, but that wasn’t the only thing that went wrong. The Dutch manager will be without a couple of players for the Boxing Day clash, and it’s a source for concern.

“Now we have some doubts. We have some illnesses during the week, so we have to see who is always available for tomorrow. Hopefully, they are recovered, but we have to see. (Casemiro and Martinez) are not available before Christmas, so that will be mid-January we expect them back. Mason Mount is similar in January. Harry Maguire, I expect him early on, and Victor Lindelof is not available.” Ten Hag said.

Manchester United are winless in their last four matches losing three and drawing once and have only won once in their last seven games in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea on the 6th of December. Since then, the Red Devils have not scored a single goal in four consecutive matches.

The poor run of form has seen Manchester United stuck in eighth position with 28 points from 18 matches, 6 points from the top five. On the other hand, Aston Villa are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on the 5th of November. The team’s 15-match winning streak at home came to an end at the weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield United.

Nevertheless, Unai Emery’s side remained unbeaten in 10 consecutive matches in all competitions. Aston Villa are in the title race for now as they are in third position with 39 points, level with second-place Liverpool and just one place behind League leaders Arsenal.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu