'You have to suffer and sacrifice' - Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag defends methods after Mason Mount becomes latest player to pick up training injury

Mount looks set to miss at least three weeks after suffering a calf knock in training this week. The summer arrival became the latest in a long line of injuries at United ahead of a key run of games. But while questions over Ten Hag's training methods have began to surface, the man himself puts the blame squarely on the fixture calendar.

"Last year we played the most games across Europe. Last year was a weird year with a World Cup in the middle of the season," Ten Hag explained to reporters ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton. But each year they keep adding games to the schedule. Next year they add two more games and we've already achieved the limits and gone across those limits that players can handle.

"In the first 12 Premier League games the physical standards are even higher in comparison to last year. You have choices to make. Either you match it by training and preparation or you drop off. That is a decision that every club has to make, every team has to make and an individual has to make. You have to do it smart. Every team knows you have to suffer and sacrifice."

Whatever the cause, United's deepening injury crisis could barely come at a worse time, as they try to retrieve a troubled Champions League campaign before facing up to the Premier League's relentless December fixture list. As well as Mount, Ten Hag will have to make do without Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Amad Diallo and Tyrell Malacia against Everton on Sunday. Some rare good news comes in the return of Luke Shaw after three months on the sidelines.

If injuries weren't enough to contend with, the Reds also find themselves in the unenviable position of being Everton's first opponents since the Premier League sanctioned the Toffees with a 10-point deduction. With a slew of protests planned, the atmosphere at Goodison Park promises to be electric when United visit this afternoon.