Man Utd confirm arrival of Gary O'Driscoll from Arsenal amid injury crisis that has left Erik ten Hag without nine players including summer signings Sofyan Amrabat & Mason Mount

O’Driscoll has spent the last 14 years filling a similar role at Arsenal, overseeing more than 600 games in north London, and will hope to deliver a reversal in fortune for the Red Devils on the injury front as they currently have nine players ruled out – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo.

The sports medicine department is responsible for providing medical services to hundreds of players across the men and women’s game - including those in a fabled academy system.

United have said on the club's official website: “O’Driscoll is one of the most experienced and respected leaders in sports medicine, having served as chairman of the Premier League Doctors’ Group and a member of the FA Medical Committee. Before joining Arsenal, he spent six years as team doctor for the Ireland Rugby Union team, and performed the same role for the British and Irish Lions rugby team during two tours to New Zealand and South Africa. He was trackside medical lead at the London 2012 Olympics and also had a spell as medical adviser to the Great Britain cycling squad.”

Manchester native O’Driscoll is a lifelong United supporter and succeeds Steve McNally in a prominent role at Old Trafford that was vacated back in February – as McNally left to become the new performance sport director at the PGMOL referees body.