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Manchester United defender Jonny Evans believes injuries are hampering their progress this season after the 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Goals from Erling Haaland either side of half-time were added to by Phil Foden at Old Trafford, securing a fifth win in six meetings between the sides.
The result leaves Erik ten Hag’s side in eighth, nine points adrift of City in third. Evans says the long injury list is hampering the manager’s ability to improve the team.
“I think we’ve been disrupted with a lot of injuries this season in terms of key personnel,” said Evans. “Probably a lot of our starting players are those who are missing.”
Evans returned to Old Trafford on a free transfer from relegated Leicester in the summer but, at 35, became the oldest defender to start a Manchester derby in the Premier League since an almost 37-year-old Laurent Blanc played in 2002.
Indeed, he arguably only played because of the absentees in defence, with Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw injured and the highly decorated Raphael Varane only able to start on the bench.
Along with the injuries, Jadon Sancho remains on the sidelines after a public fall out with Ten Hag in September.
“I think the manager has found out difficulties having to work on the team’s tactics and having to change the personnel quite a lot with only two days in between games,” added Evans.
“Hopefully we can get more players back and get a real sort of opportunity to create freshness within the squad.”
