Jonny Evans' Latest Issue Highlights a Wider Injury Problem at Manchester United

When Chris Smalling picked up a groin injury at Sunderland on 24 August, Manchester United fans rued the defender’s bad luck. It was a similar feeling when Phil Jones sustained a hamstring injury playing for England on 8 September.

 However, when Jonny Evans limped off with an ankle injury at Leicester City on 21 September, United fans couldn’t help but laugh at the misfortune.

 

All three centre-backs became injured in the space of just 28 days.

Each incident combines to reinforce one key point: United’s defenders are far too injury prone, which could harm the chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

With Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra leaving the club this summer, Louis van Gaal knew he needed to rebuild his defence.

His solution seemed to involve playing Smalling, Jones and Evans at the same time in a 5-3-2 formation. The emergence of Tyler Blackett on the pre-season tour of the United States was an added bonus and provided Van Gaal with a fourth possibility.

Although it worked fairly well in terms of performances and results, a three-centre-back system was never really a long-term option.

Smalling, Jones and Evans cannot stay fit enough for long enough. The fact the trio haven’t featured in the same matchday squad this season is evidence of that. It’s a problem, one which has been ongoing for some time.
Since the start of the 2012/13 season, per Squawka.com, Evans hasn’t featured in more than seven consecutive Premier League fixtures. Through the same period, Jones’ longest run is 10 games and Smalling’s is 12 games.

It’s worth noting that Ferdinand and Vidic were, for the most part, the first-choice pairing during that time, but they also had injury problems.

The point is that Smalling, Jones and Evans don’t provide any continuity. Looking ahead, it’s too much of a gamble to rely on the three players.